Invitation to Tender
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Project Title
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Herefordshire Children and Young People’s Arts and
Culture Network
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Opportunity
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Invitation to tender to supply development services
to the network
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Contract duration
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Two years
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Start Date
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To start at earliest opportunity
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Issued by
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Herefordshire and Worcestershire Arts
Development Ltd. (Hereward) on behalf of the network
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Date issued
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2/3/16
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Closing date:
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11/4/16 5pm
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1. Summary
This is an invitation
to tender (ITT) to provide services and skills to develop a strategic, powerful and effective
network across Herefordshire that will improve the opportunities for children
and young people (0 – 25) to engage in high quality arts and cultural activity
both in and out of formal education. The principle is that by bringing together
the arts, cultural, education, voluntary and other sectors we can make the
impact of the network more than the sum of the individual parts. We are inviting suitably skilled and qualified individuals, partnerships or organisations to lead and
co-ordinate the growth and activities of the Herefordshire Children and
Young People’s Arts and Culture Network.
It is envisaged
that this role will run for an initial two-year period with a contract value of
£25,000 per year and we envisage that it may require 2 – 3 days of work per
week. There is an additional seed corn fund to support new network funding bids
and other suitable development activities as agreed. We expect that there will
be a focus on better coordinating and/ or re-focusing current activity amongst
network partners that does not have a budget requirement.
This document sets
out the context, task, measures of success and process for applying. Potential
applicants are welcome to be in contact for an informal conversation and
further details.
2. Introduction
A group of
Herefordshire arts and cultural organisations, educationalists, Herefordshire
Council, The Elmley Foundation, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Arts
Development Company (hereafter “Hereward”) and Arts Connect have formed a
partnership called the Herefordshire Children and Young People’s Arts and
Culture Network (HCYPCM).
This network was
developed in response to shared concerns about the uncertain future for arts
and cultural education (formal and informal) given the rapidly changing
environment that has affected the patterns of provision, levels of resources,
the de-prioritising of arts in the education system and the reduced vitality of
support networks. While many young people are receiving a high quality
experience there are many that do not, as highlighted by the Warwick Commission
report http://bit.ly/1f6Ra9b
.
The need for a
collective response – and a new form of collective response – has been
crystallised by Arts Council England’s (ACE) ‘Cultural Education Challenge’ http://bit.ly/1jnIUKL and
the role given to the ‘Bridge’ organisations it funds across England to develop
local partnerships with the capacity to take a leadership role. Arts Connect http://www.artsconnect.co.uk plays the Bridge role for the West
Midlands. Herefordshire has been identified by ACE as a priority area in the
region to focus resource and investment to establish and grow a local education
partnership.
3. Progress to Date
The network currently involves
the following organisations: 2 Faced Dance, Arts Alive, Arts Connect, Aylestone
School, Borderlines
Film Festival, Brightstripe, The
Courtyard, Cultural Services, Dancefest, Elmley Foundation, Hereford Art
College, Hereford VIth Form College, Herefordshire Archives Herefordshire Music
Service, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Library Service, Madley Primary School, Meadow Arts, The Music Pool, Museum Service,
Pentabus,
Rural Media Company.
At the initial
planning meeting in March 2015 the network identified a shared ambition as follows:
We want collective motivation and a well resourced plan to offer
opportunities for young people to derive pleasure from and develop critical
understanding of the arts. We want to inspire and promote opportunities for
children and young people to experience the arts, celebrate their community and
their participation within the arts and cultural industries.
Through collaborative planning by arts, cultural and educational
organisations, we want children and young people in Herefordshire to have access
to strong and valued arts activities and events. We want arts for everyone,
everywhere. We want all children, young people and their families to be able to
access collaborative and sustainable creative and cultural experiences in their
school, community and where they live.
4. Research
As part of the
planning process the network commissioned a research report from Garry
Churchill into what is known about the quality and reach of current provision,
the challenge of the current environment and opportunities for the network to
make a positive difference. The report is available here
(AC website) and the findings identified the need to strengthen existing relationships and partnerships and to build new
ones, to find new approaches to increase demand, resources and opportunities in
order to produce a more coherent and equitable cultural offer and opportunities
or young people.
The wider group
agreed that a smaller Network Development Group (NDC) should be formed to
progress the recommendations of Garry’s report and to further incubate the
growth of the network. The NDC have proposed a core purpose
for the network:
·
to
develop a collective approach to finding solutions and taking action that will improve
opportunities for all of Herefordshire’s children and young people’s to engage
in high quality arts and cultural activity, and so improve their personal, social,
educational and civic outcomes.
And three aims:
·
to increase participation
in arts and cultural activity
·
to increase the levels of
accreditation and recognition
·
to increase the buy in and
active support of local, county and regional stakeholders
See the Further
Information section for potential measures of success.
5. The Brief
The NDC
envisage that the successful applicant will spend the initial period, possibly
up to three months, to orientate, research, meet and familiarise themselves
with the organisations and opportunities in the county in order the produce
proposals for an action plan. This plan will show clear priorities, quick wins
and longer-term deliverable activity that will enable us to meet the aim,
objectives and signs of success. This will be discussed and agreed with the NDC
and once signed off will be adopted as the plan for the network and be used for
monitoring progress, making revisions and assessing performance. It is expected
that the plan will develop and change in response to circumstances and
opportunity.
The NDC anticipate that the plan will identify
actions under the following overarching themes and we have provided some
examples of the sorts of actions these might be.
1. Partnership development and funding
e.g. identify the potential for developing
innovative or new partnerships that can create new opportunities for children
and young people
2. Developing the network
e.g. identify
and run a programme of activities that builds the capacity and impact of the
network
3. Wider wtakeholder engagement
e.g. build strategic partnerships with the county’s formal and
informal education sectors
4. School and education engagement
e.g.
promote the engagement of schools in Artsmark http://www.artsmark.org.uk/
and to promote the uptake of Arts Awards http://www.artsaward.org.uk/
for young people
5. Communications and Advocacy
e.g. develop and implement a communications plan
7. Who might this contract suit?
This would suit an individual(s) or organisation excited by:
·
The chance to input and
shape the strategy, operations and activities of a network that will make a
difference to the lives of young people and the health and vitality of future
arts and cultural opportunities
·
The opportunity to play a
developmental and defining role in a programme of regional significance
We expect that the
successful applicant will have a strong track record of achievement in developing
cultural and creative opportunities for young people and good experience of
working with schools, community organizations, funders etc. They’ll need the confidence and ability make contacts
at a strategic level and be able to plan and deliver development activities. It
is essential that they have or can show how they will gain a good knowledge of
the county, its arts and cultural organisations and civic life.
Above all they will
need the ability to build relationships and to make connections around a common
vision and galvanise a range of individuals and organisations to contribute to
achieving it. They will be a strong
advocate for the contribution that the arts, culture and creative industries
makes to the county’s children and young people.
8. Required skills, aptitudes and knowledge
We expect that the successful
applicant will bring the following leadership skills and experience:
Skills:
1. Skills in developing and managing senior level
relationships
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
3. Ability to plan and implement high quality programmes
of activity
4. Ability to manage a portfolio of duties,
prioritise and achieve results
5. Ability to make connections, identify
opportunities and propose ideas
6. Good skills in the production of high quality
written narrative and financial reports
Experience
and knowledge
1. Experience of developing strategic plans that
enable effective delivery
2. Experience of working in a developmental role
and growing a start up operation
3. Good understanding and skills in developing
communication plans
4. Can apply knowledge and insight into successful
network building approaches
5. A
good knowledge of arts, culture and education in the county
6. Insights into what makes for high quality participation
and learning programmes
7. Good knowledge of current debates in culture,
education and public policy
8. Track record in coordinating programmes of arts
and cultural engagement/ education with young people
Behaviours:
1. Committed to working through partnership and
building collegiality
2. Demonstrates generosity in their dealings
3. Committed to the values and benefits of
diversity and inclusion
9. Practical Contract Details
Reports to: The Development Committee and the Chair
Works with: Herefordshire Network, Elmley Foundation,
Arts Connect
Area: Across the county of Herefordshire with
occasional travel across the region
Relationships:
artists, cultural organisations
libraries, museums, the formal & informal education sectors such as senior
leaders, art form teachers, music hub, voluntary & statutory service
providers, trusts & foundations, Marches LEP, local businesses
Fee:
£25k per year to deliver these services
From:
The contract is offered
for a two year fixed term for two years from the start date subject to
effective performance reviews and achieving agreed progress measures through
quarterly reviews.
10. Application Process
There is a two-stage
process:
1) We would like an
initial written response to this document detailing:
1.
Applicant’s (individual or
organization) full contact details:
·
Name of Company / Key
Contact; status (sole trader, company, charity, partnership etc.); trading
address inc Tel, email, website address;
·
If a company, company
registration / charity no.
2.
General Information:
·
Relevant accreditations:
Data Protection Act, OFSTED, CQC etc.
·
Insurance cover details
and limits: Public Indemnity; Employer’s Indemnity if appropriate; Professional
Indemnity
·
If an organisation
information on key policies Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities and Equality
& Diversity Policies
·
If a sole trader, do you
have an up to date Disclosure and Barring Certificate in place?
3.
Your interest in the
tender
4.
How you would approach
delivering the brief including an outline plan for the first six months and how
much time and resource you can devote to the task.
5.
The key skills,
competencies and track record that you or your organisation bring to the
delivery of the work and information on the key personnel involved
6.
Please give an indication
of the costs involved in delivering this service e.g. staffing, overheads,
administrative, travel, delivery costs etc. The maximum budget per annum is
£25,000 and bids in excess of this figure are unlikely to be accepted. Please
note that we may have access to sponsored office space at Hereford College of
Art that may relieve elements of this budget if appropriate.
7.
If your bid is accepted
the payment terms will be negotiated with you.
2) We will then
invite shortlisted applicants for interview with the NDC
Closing date: April 11th 2016
Interviews: 19th April
We welcome informal
enquiries. Please contact Arts Connect’s Director rob.elkington@wlv.ac.uk
to arrange a call.
11. Further Information
In his report Garry
Churchill identified the following as signs of success that this is being
achieved:
In schools/colleges
1.
Increased number of
schools being awarded Artsmark
2.
More celebration type
inter-school events [including some of the things that were formerly organised
by arts advisers] to raise the profile and give opportunities beyond what
individual schools can provide
3.
Improved communications
with schools by the cultural sector, leading to more work in schools by
practitioners and cultural organisations
4.
Increased take-up of arts
subjects as examination subjects
5.
New initiatives which use
arts to address curriculum priorities, e.g. with visiting writers and poets in
schools (link to literacy) [this would
need project funding]
6.
Higher public profile for
creative work produced by young people, e.g. visual arts and craft work having
more opportunities for general public display
7.
Projects which address
typical gender imbalances (e.g. more boys in dance and singing, more girls in
jazz and rock music)
Out of school
8.
More accessible
information for young people on the range of opportunities that are available
9.
Increased numbers and
take-up by young people in regular activities organised by cultural
organisations
10.
Increased funding secured
for out-of-school cultural projects and activities (e.g. project grants)
11.
Improved cultural offer in
the informal sector (youth work)
12.
Success by cultural
organisations in winning commissions/contracts for services (e.g. relating to
social inclusion)
13.
Young people directly
involved (creative consultation) in:
·
What cultural
opportunities they would like and how the barriers could be reduced (15-18 age
group)
·
Planning the City of
Culture bid
·
What changes would be
needed in cultural and social provision for 18-25 age group to strengthen
proposals for a University
14.
Increased
recognition/validation e.g. by number of YP gaining Arts Award
About Cultural Education Partnerships
The idea of
Cultural Education Partnerships (CEP) has developed from an Arts Council of
England campaign called the Cultural Education Challenge. Herefordshire is a
priority area for ACE under this campaign and the network is an example of a
CEP. See http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/cyp/cultural-education-challenge-find-out-more/
for more details and http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/pdf/Cultural_Education_Partnerships_Pilot_Study_FINAL.pdf
for the NFER initial research report into the pilot CEPs
About
Arts Connect
Arts
Connect is funded by Arts Council England to be the 'bridge' organisation for
the West Midlands, working with the education, arts and cultural sector to
overcome the barriers that prevent all children and young people to engage with
high quality culture.
We aim to provide regional leadership,
developing and brokering new partnerships, building new connections, and
identifying strategic investment opportunities that will encourage innovation
and growth.
In particular we focus on:
·
Supporting innovation and
take up of Arts Award and Artsmark
·
Influencing the quality
and breadth of cultural education in schools including partnerships with the
cultural sector
·
Working with the cultural
organisations to develop their offer to children and young people
·
Supporting the growth and
impact of local cultural networks on opportunities for children and young
people
·
Partnership investment to
grow the level of sustainable resources available for arts and culture
·
Developing opportunities
for young people to have a greater say in the cultural offer available to them
·
Communicating the many and
various offers of the region’s arts and cultural organisations for young people
We do not directly fund arts and cultural
projects. The key outcomes of our
programme are to:
i)
grow informed demand for
arts and culture amongst young people and their ‘gatekeepers’ and
ii)
improve the sustainability
of the cultural sector in providing high quality opportunities and programmes
About Herefordshire and Worcestershire Arts
Development Ltd. (Hereward)
The
objective of The Charity is “to promote the maintenance, improvement and
development of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts in
Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”
The NDC is a
sub-committee of the Hereward charity with agreed terms of reference for the
network development and holds the funds for the post. We have this arrangement
because:
·
The Charity
offers a formal structure with established processes for managing activity,
reporting and financial management and this proposal is congruent with the
leadership role of the charity.
·
It offers
transparency of process and decision-making and is independent from the network members.
·
It enables the
network to move quickly into action while it considers the options and the most
appropriate form for a more formal independent structure. The sub-committee is
to be regarded as an interim development group.
·
The Charity is
holding the resource for network activity and development. The sub-committee can spend this resource
efficiently through the charity.
