North East Culture Collective
Creative Practitioner Call Out
Active-Creative Project
The Commission
The North East Cultural Collective, in partnership with Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) and The Foyer, wish to commission a creative practitioner with experience in creative engagement and the design/siting of creative activities. The project, Active-Creative, will take place over a period of seven months in the Banff and Macduff areas of Aberdeenshire.
The intention of the project is to assess the positive impact of combining physical, creative, and social activities on a community’s health and wellbeing over a continuous period. It will focus on groupings of people with underlying health concerns but is also intended to support adults and families who are less comfortable with or have fewer opportunities to take part in physical or arts activity, yet wish to improve their overall wellbeing and become more able to deal with life’s daily challenges.
Background
Banff and Macduff are two neighbouring coastal communities in North Aberdeenshire. It is an area with high vulnerability and where hospital stays due to misuse of alcohol and drugs are up to seven times higher than the Aberdeenshire average, with increasing admissions due to COPD, Asthma, heart disease and alcohol.
More positively, proximity to green spaces is good, and the towns’ facilities include newbuild or recently refurbished libraries, sports and community centres, visitor attractions, leisure beaches and a new community-focussed gardening/food initiative, which could all be engaged during the project.
For these reasons, Active-Creative will take place in Banff and Macduff, focusing on people with breathing difficulties (likely to be aged 60+), and people of any age in recovery from addiction (possibly encompassing preventative work with young people aged 15-25 addressing misuse of prescription and recreational drugs).
Context
The project proposes a creative Co-design approach facilitated by the practitioner to develop, deliver and promote new entry-level, combined physical and creative activity, indoors and outdoors. It is designed to stimulate imaginations and encourage self-expression for both the Working Group of community stakeholders and participants in the integrated activities. The Active-Creative activities could be facilitated or self-led, designed for a single person or a group, and for varying age-groups. They are intended as a first step/entry-level to improved physical and mental health, as opposed to undertaking more challenging pursuits.
NECC, LLA, The Foyer (based at The Vinery, Banff), the commissioned artist/s, a Working Group of representatives from Banff and Macduff and interested individuals, will work collectively and in collaboration to co-design and deliver this initiative.
The Working Group will consist of users and clients from target groups with specific health concerns, as well as coordinators, leaders, and participants of third sector and other health support organisations. This approach will ensure the work is accessible and relevant to the needs and abilities of multiple lived experiences. It is also intended to encourage buy-in from the start, creating an opportunity for local people to help inform and shape activities in the place where they live, to contribute in a meaningful way, and become advocates to maximise uptake.
The project will start with general creative activity, which we hope will lead to imaginative thinking and co-design some new activity. Once the concept has been developed there may be the opportunity to invite other specialised creatives to help support the Creative Practitioner and partners in any build elements.
The project also aims to empower communities to commission or engage with artists themselves in the future and provide learning and skills development for creatives wishing to work with communities on co-designed projects.
Though there is clearly a strong design and creative participatory requirement for the project we are open to applications from practitioners from any creative practice, who feel they have the experience to be part of this creative project team.
Timescale
Active-Creative will run February to September 2023. Some flexibility will be required during the key project stages, but there is an expected weekly commitment of activity and a total estimated minimum of 520 hours over the duration of the project.
There will involve meetings with the lead partners as well as devising and delivering creative sessions with a broad range of participants, volunteers, and Working Group.
Additionally, there will be paid opportunities for, training and NECC and national Culture Collective network meetings.
Scope of work
Areas of activity will include:
Planning and delivering creative consultation workshops with Working Group and members of partner organisations and individuals.
Planning and delivering co-design sessions, build activity (both with groups and by oneself) and looking at training requirements to enable longer term maintenance and upkeep.
Budget proposals for materials and additional creative support if required.
Attending other activities delivered by partners as an observer to better understand the health and wellbeing needs of target groups.
Attending Working Group meetings.
Reporting and evaluation and analysis
Meetings with NECC Co-ordinator and team.
Engage with the national Culture Collective programme when appropriate.
Fulfil administrative tasks as required including the submission of invoices and timesheets.
Specific project training (if required).
There will also be opportunities for participation in local and national training and events, and expenses for these will be agreed with the NECC Co-ordinator as opportunities arise.
Financial and Contractual
The total fee is estimated to be approx. £10,400 based on 520 hours @ £20.00 p/hr (recommended Scottish Artists Union Residency Rates for experienced practitioners).
The project will have access to an additional budget which could include materials, expenses, other creative practitioner input or other specific project costs, to be agreed with NECC core team in response to identified needs.
Application process
Please apply by sending in a written application, (max two sides of A4), or a video/voice recording (max 5 minutes) in response to the information laid out in the document with specific focus on experience of participatory and co-designed creative work. Please note, if submitting video/voice material or previous examples of your work please use an unlisted YouTube link or a file sharing site such as We Transfer.
Please also include a CV and two referees and send to stewart.aitken@shmu.org.uk with “NECC Active-Creative project” in subject line.
Your application should demonstrate:
An understanding of the role and reference to the information in the call out.
Evidence of a well-developed personal creative practice, experience of creative community engagement and co-creation approaches, including information about any relevant past commissions or projects that you think demonstrate how your artistic and creative work fits this brief. This can be supported by additional photographs or video links.
Ability to provide evaluation, reflection, and feedback.
A strong connection and commitment to the North East of Scotland. This could be that you currently live or have lived here, work or study in the region or have family connections. However, we ask applicants to be aware that this project will require a degree of flexibility, with many in-person meetings and creative sessions, therefore having a base in the North East would be desirable.
Skills, Attributes and Experience
Proven track record of working with people with a range of backgrounds to establish creative and fulfilling experiences.
Experience of working with an equalities, diversity, and inclusion approach to support vulnerable groups involvement.
Ability to collaborate with and support individuals and communities to co-design and co-create cultural experiences.
Be willing to work flexibly to fulfil elements of the project
Ability to work alone as well as collaborate with a team.
Good organisational skills as well as written and verbal communication skills.
Competent IT skills.
Ability to manage relationships and ensure effective communications are maintained at all times.
Generosity and willingness to exchange learning in a peer group.
A clear understanding of safeguarding.
Deadline for Applications: Monday 6th February 2023 at 5pm.
Selection Process
All applicants will be assessed by a panel comprising members from NECC, Live Life Aberdeenshire and The Foyer.
Interviews: Thursday 16th February, if possible (in person and online options available but in person preferred).
Project contact
If you would like further information or chat about the commission, please contact Stewart Aitken stewart.aitken@shmu.org.uk
