Alfred P. Sloan Foundation New Media Program

Overview

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation New Media Program extends the Foundation's science communication mission into interactive, digital, and emerging media formats. Where the Foundation's film and television programs support linear narrative storytelling, the New Media Program addresses the expanding landscape of interactive experiences, documentary games, immersive installations, podcast series, and digital content that engage audiences with scientific and technological subjects outside conventional broadcast and theatrical windows.

The program reflects the Sloan Foundation's recognition that audiences -- particularly younger audiences -- encounter science through digital platforms more than through traditional film and television, and that the most compelling science communication often happens at the intersection of storytelling and participatory media.

What It Funds

The New Media Program funds interactive and digital projects in which science, mathematics, or technology is central to the audience experience. Eligible formats include interactive documentaries, science-themed games, immersive installations, podcast series on scientific subjects, and other emerging digital storytelling formats.

As with the Foundation's film and television programs, New Media grants are administered through partner organizations rather than through direct application to the Foundation. Grant amounts vary by partner and project scope.

Eligibility

Eligibility varies by partner program. Projects must have a digital or interactive component and must place science, technology, or mathematics at the center of the audience experience. Purely informational or educational content without a storytelling or experiential design dimension is generally outside the spirit of the program.

Creators and producers seeking Sloan New Media support should identify the relevant partner organizations running active new media programs and apply through those channels. The Foundation's website lists current active partnerships.

Who Should Apply

Interactive media creators, game designers, podcast producers, and digital storytellers developing projects in which scientific or technological subjects are central to the audience experience. The New Media Program is particularly relevant for practitioners working at the boundary of interactive design and science communication who want institutional backing for ambitious experimental work.

See Also

For understanding how interactive and digital media connect to traditional documentary and film distribution, see Distribution Deals: What Filmmakers Need to Know. For an overview of emerging production formats, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway.