Producer development opportunity for two early career project managers in outdoor arts & carnival events

Producer development opportunity for two early career project managers in outdoor arts & carnival events

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As advertised with Outdoor Arts: https://outdoorartsuk.org/members-listing/moving-souls-dance/

Freelance contract: June to September 2023

Starts: 12th June 

Deadline: Thursday 1st June 

Reports to: Virginia Wollaston: ginnie@movingsouls.dance

Fee: £5000

Details of Route 34 and summer events here

Moving Souls Dance is an independent arts organisation that provides a range of services for artists, arts organisations and agencies, specialising in outdoor participatory arts and climate justice arts activism. We produce, we partner with arts organisations and offer professional and personal development to encourage career progression. 

MSD co-produced some aspects of Route 34: Embracing Cultures project alongside Ace dance and music and North Birmingham Alliance (NBA) funded through Our Creative City and Birmingham City Council for the B2022 Festival as part of the Commonwealth Games.  https://www.northbirminghamalliance.com/route34

Over the Summer (June 12th – 14th September 2023), this pilot programme of producer development and work experience is targeted for 2 early career diverse producers, working with Caribbean Carnival dance costumes over 6 events and one event with young people, delivered with partner organisations.  Producers who apply need at least 2 years of experience in arts management.

 MSD will be working with NBA to deliver Carnival events as part of Birmingham 2023 Festival and Windrush celebration events at the National Arboretum.  MSD will also be working in partnership with Wolverhampton LCEP to deliver a Carnival event at Newhampton Arts Centre specifically programmed for and with neuro-diverse young people. Activities will be curated by specifically appointed arts organisation agreed by the steering group (http://www.wolverhamptoncep.org/steering-group/)

The producers that are taken onto this programme, will attend up to 6 days of training offered by 3 members of the steering group for this programme. Each producer will undertake a specific area of research to identify and understand in what way this programme can assist diverse producers to gain skills in outdoor arts. The programme will encourage individuals to learn and develop leadership roles for their future careers. Working with a mentor will allow individuals to address any gaps in skills and experience and overcome any obstacles/ barriers to developing their role in outdoor arts and carnival in the future.

MSD are committed to placing Climate Justice and sustainability at the heart of what we continue to produce and promote. The use of recycled or re-purposed materials for these events plus recycled materials and recommendation of public transport and no single plastic materials will be required.

Background information and application submission:

This is a role that addresses the gap for producers in the West Midlands for outdoor arts and carnival events. All the events plus training listed in the appendix will take place in the West Midlands. These dates are non-negotiable. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds, genders and ages, and particularly welcome applications from people that are currently under-represented in the arts sector and/or who are Black or from the global majority and/or with lived experience of disability or neurodivergence.

Submission of application to ginnie@movingsouls.com by Thursday 1st June 12 noon

The date for the interviews will be Monday 5th June and will take place on Zoom. 

This bursary will cover your time attending and planning specific activities listed plus time for personal research and documentation. Travel within the West Midlands will be covered. 

You can apply in any of the following formats:
CV and letter. The letter should be no more than one side of A4.
An audio recording of no more than 3 minutes. A video recording of no more than 3 minutes.
Whichever way you choose to make your application please tell us: your reasons for applying, your special interests / experiences and highlight any project you led/ been part off. 

Workshop days will cover: 

The 5 days of training: July 7th – 9th & July 15th & 16th will cover: 

  • Legal and administrative requirements for outdoor arts events that are created in Local Authority / City centre venues & locations
  • Management, registration and licensing documents for all events
  • Requirements for Safeguarding and Health & Safety (including Risk Assessments for each event) when managing participatory events with children, young people and adults
  • Setting up and managing media/ social media campaigns to attract audiences to events
  • Understanding partnership and stakeholder agreements and managing communication between different stakeholders
  • Understanding the cultural and historical significance of Carnival traditions of costume and dance from the Caribbean as presented in the specific events (see Appendix)
  • Understanding the evaluation methodology and Survey Monkey questionnaires to capture numbers and evaluation of audiences and participants to each of the events 

Work placements will involve:

The Producer will take on key tasks (supervised by partners ACE dance and music and Newhampton Arts) to assist the delivery of key events identified in Appendix on specific days and dates.  Tasks will include the following:

  • Provide services to support lead partner organisations (working with MSD) with specific duties identified by each partner for the 5 events identified in the Appendix 
  • Produce Administration support to ensure H&S/ Risk Assessment and Safeguarding guidelines are put in place with professional artists and volunteer stewards on the day.
  • Provide clear communication of timetables, location, roles and responsibilities to artists, participants and volunteers for each event 
  • Understand budget allocation and management of finances, including research for specific resources attached to each project
  • Agree media guidelines and media consent forms have been signed so that Media coverage on selected social media platforms can promote these events 
  • Undertake social media postings & updates with MSD and partner organisations platforms
  • Develop community and volunteer engagement guidelines with timetables and location for all chaperones/ adult & YP participants
  • Working with Newhampton Arts Centre and their curated arts programme with neuro-diverse young people
  • Report to MSD Directors on a monthly basis on agreed targets for the successful outcome and delivery of each event
  • Attend all of 6 events to manage agreed aspects of the delivery of each event (specifically costume procession/ evaluation and artist workshops)
  • Agree evaluation and audit of participation numbers and audience attendance
  • Set up Survey Monkey questionnaire and evaluation audit
  • Collate evaluation data and feedback from events
  • Liaise with partners organisations for key tasks/ management of delivery timetable 
  • Liaise with appointed video/ film maker and photographer (in agreement with MSD) to document the events
  • Complete research into producing Carnival/ Outdoor events around selected topic
  • Document the process and the learning outcomes in a final report to MSD

Essential skills:

  • 2 years of experience delivering projects, producing or project managing in an arts context, including community and participation
  • Experience of working with artists, participants and audiences within a project timetable
  • A passion for outdoor arts and carnival events to provide participants and audiences with high quality experiences 
  • Excellent planning, organizational and communication skills and the ability to communicate with a number of different stakeholders
  • Experience as a team player with a solutions focused attitude for all those involved 
  • Numerate and experienced in common office software with good level of administrative skills 
  • Ability to use and access social media tools and platforms to document and reach audiences for each event
  • A high level of self-motivation – ability to work on own initiative 
  • Ability to think creatively and solve problems 

Desirable skills:

  • Experience of managing outreach and engagement projects 
  • Experience and understanding of venue management and operations

 

APPENDIX DATES FOR B FESTIVAL 2023 PROGRAMME  

7th – 9th July:  3 day workshop training with MSD LS & DM

15th – 16th July:   2 day workshop training with MSD LS & DM 

14th July:  1 day work placement – Dance & Carnival schools festival with Black Country Dance Hub in Walsall (Walsall Art Gallery)

23 July:  Observation of Community Spirit Festival (evaluation support)

5 August:  1 day work placement B2023 Festival – Carnival costume & live music with ACEDM youth & adult groups in Centenary Square 

6 August: 1 day work placement Windrush 70th anniversary with ACEDM / Black Voices at National Arboretum ( https://www.thenma.org.uk  a 2 hour slot on stage https://www.thenma.org.uk/what’s-on/events

9-12th August (tbc): 4 days work placement for co-creation programme for Same Difference Festival based at Newhampton Arts Centre

13th August:  1 day work placement Festival at NAC

26 August: 1 day work placement Carnival procession & dance for NBA Doorstep Carnival GRS, Perry Barr Birmingham

27 August: 1 day work placement Birmingham Weekender ACEDM Carnival Costume & dance procession from Hippodrome Theatre to Bullring & St Martins Church & back

August 30th / 31st: Meeting to de-brief per trainee, reflect and refine specific learning

14th September:  Final research report and evaluation submitted

October 9th: Final report submitted to ACE by MSD