How to Find Funding for an Immersive Media Project

I have been securing grants and investment for fulldome and immersive media projects for over a decade, with successful applications to Innovate UK, the Arts Council, Wellcome Trust and the Science and Technology Facilities Council among others. Here is what I have learned.

FUNDING

1/1/20262 min read

Approved grant application letter with a pen on top, dome blueprint blurred behind.

Fulldome is now a recognised funding category

This was not always the case. For a long time, fulldome sat in an awkward space between film, science communication and live experience. Funders did not always know what to do with it.

That has changed. In the UK particularly, fulldome and immersive media are now recognised as legitimate creative and educational formats with real funding pathways. If the project has a science communication angle, there are dedicated pots for that. If it is arts-led, the Arts Council has funded fulldome productions. If it involves technology innovation, Innovate UK is exactly where Festoon software received its funding.

The key is understanding which funder is right for the specific project rather than applying broadly and hoping for the best.

The mistakes that get applications rejected

The same errors come up again and below are some of my tips.

Not reading the guidelines thoroughly. Applications fail because dates are wrong, budgets do not include required match funding or word counts are ignored. Funders set these rules for a reason and getting them wrong signals a lack of care.

Waiting until the last minute. Submitting at least a week early gives time to fix technical issues and review with fresh eyes before the deadline.

Asking for too little. This surprises people but funders flag it regularly. If the project needs senior expertise, budget for it properly. Undervaluing the expertise needed and the work required. It makes the budget look unplanned.

Attend the briefings

Almost every funder offers online briefings before the deadline. These sessions reveal what the panel is prioritising that year and give the opportunity to ask questions before writing begins. The themes that come up repeatedly in a briefing are the themes an application needs to address.

Keep going after a rejection

Some projects do not get funded the first time. Many funders offer feedback interviews after a rejection. Use that feedback and attend that interview. The second application is going to be stronger than the first, and persistence is often what separates the projects that get made from the ones that do not.

Funding strategy for immersive and fulldome projects is one of the core services I offer. If you need help identifying the right funders, writing the application or reviewing a draft before submission, get in touch.