Project Overview
The Creative Learning Team, Aberdeen City Council invite applications from performing arts practitioners to deliver Lift: A Creative Skills Project. Lift is part of our drive to build thriving, resilient communities and improve wellbeing by giving individuals the ability, motivation and confidence to learn through creative activity.
They are seeking experienced practitioners to deliver workshops in drama, physical theatre, storytelling or other performing arts disciplines. The workshops will help participants acquire new skills and explore personal challenges in a safe environment.
Participants in Lift will be offered opportunities to improve their self confidence, understand what they enjoy and are good at and articulate their point of view effectively. Workshops will encourage participants to explore new concepts, test ideas and challenge existing perceptions. For some people, Lift will act as a stepping stone into existing employability programmes.
Through the activity, they aim to improve participants’ awareness about and levels of wellbeing. Project proposals should reflect the five ways to wellbeing Give, Take Notice, Connect, Be Active and Keep Learning. More information about the five ways can be found here: http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/entry/five-ways-to-well-being
They are seeking to appoint four practitioners who will take responsibility for one priority group each. Each practitioner will work with two groups to deliver weekly half day workshops for 10-15 participants between September and December, followed by a project end event in February. The four practitioners will bring their expertise together to develop content for the whole series of Lift workshops.
Roles
Lead practitioner – Parents, Carers and Family Relationships
Responsible for developing content and leading workshops for parents, lone parents and carers exploring how to build positive relationships
Lead practitioner – Employability and Creative Life Skills
Responsible for developing content and leading workshops for people who are unemployed or in low paid employment who are not yet ready to join a work readiness programme
Lead practitioner – Mental Health & Wellbeing
Responsible for developing content and leading workshops for people with or recovering from a mental health issue and women who have experienced violence and/or abuse. Applicants for this role must have experience of working with vulnerable women
Lead practitioner – Creative Community Engagement
Responsible for developing content and leading workshops which engage people experiencing deprivation within their community (the areas identified as regeneration areas in 2015/16 are Cummings Park, Tillydrone, Middlefield, Woodside, Northfield, Seaton, Mastrick and Torry)
Fees and Delivery
The fee for the project is £4,000 plus reasonable travel expenses; there is additional budget available for materials. It is envisaged this represents around 20 days’ work between July 2015 and February 2016 to include the following deliverables:
- Devising and development of workshops and evaluation processes July/ Aug
- Presentation and feedback session with Community Partners July/Aug
- Participant engagement events Aug/Sept
- Leading creative workshops Sept – Dec (2 x half day workshops per week)
- End of project event planning and delivery Jan – Feb
How to apply
Please apply in writing. Applicants should indicate which lead practitioner role or roles they wish to be considered for and demonstrate relevant past experience working with that priority group(s) in their application. Applicants are required to have a proven track record of using their art form in a participatory setting. Please submit the following information via email to creativelearningteam@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Project proposal which demonstrates (max 1,500 words)
- How you would take participants through a process from initial engagement through to an appropriate conclusion
- Your ideas for how participant progress could be evaluated in a creative and engaging way
- What steps you would take, working with the other practitioners, to bring all of the groups together for an end of project ‘happening’
Personal Statement (max 1,000 words)
- Articulate your interest in and suitability for the role(s) you have selected
- Outline your experience in using your arts discipline in a participatory setting including key successes to date
- Demonstrate your experience in working with the priority group or groups you have specified
- Demonstrate your experience in designing and implementing a project evaluation process Supporting documentation
- CV (maximum 2 sides)
- Details of two referees with knowledge of your work leading workshops in participatory settings with the relevant priority group(s)
- Other supporting evidence you feel is relevant (files must not exceed 2MB)
Key Dates
- Applications close 5pm on Weds 24th June
- Interviews will be held Monday 29th June – Wednesday 1st July in Aberdeen, applicants will need to be available on one of these days
- The devising and development process will take place in late July or early August and is likely to comprise four days’ work
