A new £4m initiative funded by the Arts and Heritage Research Council, aims to develop ways for digital technologies to help communities explore their culture and heritage.

The funding is open to independent research organisations, including museums, and will bring together arts and humanities researchers, community engagement experts and digital technology specialists.

The resulting research will be used to develop assets like new or enhanced digital databases, archives, galleries and creative outputs.

Minister for universities and science David Willetts said: "This £4m capital investment in the Connected Community projects will lead to the development of new ways to engage communities in creating, interpreting and using arts and humanities research data.

"This will leave a sustainable resource and legacy for future research and for communities."

A formal call for research proposals will be made in April with proposals due by summer.