A competition has opened to find services and products that use open data to encourage more people to engage with UK heritage and culture.
The Heritage and Culture Open Data Challenge is supported by the British Museum, charity Nesta and non-profit organisation the Open Data Institute (ODI) and invites businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, community groups and individuals to submit entries.
Submissions must use at least one open data dataset published by a UK public body. Judges are particularly interested in applications that will compel people who are 'not well-served by current heritage and culture offers'.
Nesta and the ODI will hold a series of events to help applicants to develop their ideas between now and 9 February 2015 (the deadline). Three finalists will be selected and given £5,000 and a support package to develop their ideas to then compete for a prize of £50,000 to launch their product.
To support the challenge, the British Museum is making available a trial download of their collections and images databases.
The competition is one of seven 'challenges' to use open data in innovative ways covering topics including Crime and Justice, Education and Energy and Environment. Part of the Open Data Challenge series, the initiative sets out to generate solutions to social challenges and is funded by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.