Brief for Freelance Evaluator

Posted on 14 August 2014

Applications are invited for a Freelance Evaluator for Art: Audience, Development, Discourse and Skills (Art: ADDS), a Contemporary Visual Art Network NW (CVAN NW) project funded by Arts Council England through Grants for the Arts.

Brief for Freelance Evaluator

Location: Based in own office, some travel will be required

Duration of freelance contract: October 2014 to March 2016

Fee: £6,000 (including VAT and expensess

Application deadline: Midday, Wednesday 17 September 2014

Project Outline

Art: ADDS is a two-year learning project that uses and develops skills, knowledge and expertise in the North West to improve the ability of visual arts organisations to build upon and increase audiences.

The project will invest in a number of development opportunities for artists, arts organisations and art professionals in the region, and will be supported by the following priorities:

Critical Writing – establishing and supporting critical writing at all levels to promote greater understanding and dialogue around North West visual arts
Artist Development – to support and develop North West artists, artist-led activities and workspace provisions to further establish the region as a vital and important place to make and present work
Young People – establishing structures that provide greater access to visual arts organisations to support the development and growth of young producers and find a stronger voice for young people to influence the future cultural offer in the North West

The interconnected priorities will encourage more people to engage with high quality contemporary visual arts, improve professional development for artists and managers and increase regional connectivity.

The purposes of this Evaluation are:

To evaluate to what extent each project strand meets its primary aims, objectives and outcomes
To consider the quality of experience of participants and audiences during the project
To consider the quality of experience of artists, young people, arts professionals, partners and funders during the project
To make recommendations, including some shared priorities and objectives, which may inform future CVAN NW programmes / projects

Role Description

To devise a methodology to evaluate the Art: ADDS project
To present a process, key activities and timeframe for collating and evaluating all required information
To collect quantitative and qualitative data from project participants, audiences, artists, young people, arts professionals, partners and funders
To observe and record key project moments
To analyse data and produce interim and final reports for wide dissemination, including via the CVAN network and to funders

The Evaluator will be supported by the CVAN NW regional chairs and CVAN NW Regional Coordinator and will work in liaison with the Art: ADDS Project Coordinator.

Person Specification (Essential)

Proven track record of successfully devising and delivering evaluations for arts organisations or other relevant settings
Demonstrable competence in handling both quantitative and qualitative research
Excellent written and spoken communication skills
Knowledge and experience of contemporary visual arts practice including understanding of local, regional and national arts agendas
Proven ability to produce evaluation reports for a range of stakeholders
Flexibility to travel across the North West
Commitment to ensuring that issues of diversity are identified and addressed in the course of the evaluation process

Timescale and Outputs

The Evaluator will submit interim and final reports within a timescale to be agreed with the CVAN NW regional chairs. The Evaluation Final Report will comprise:

An executive summary of the report’s key findings and recommendations
A description of the evaluation methodology
Clarification of the aim of the evaluation
A brief description of the project
A detailed analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data the Evaluator has collected against the aims for the project
Key findings and recommendations
Conclusion

Fee and Expenses

A fee of £6,000 to include VAT (if applicable) and expenses is available for this work. The Evaluator will be responsible for his / her own Tax and NI contributions.

Application Process

Please submit the following documents by email to:

Emma Fry, Project Coordinator Art: ADDS

Email: muralla_emlou@yahoo.com

A CV with details of two referees
A covering letter stating your interest in this project and how your experience equips you to undertake the work (maximum 1 A4 side)
A proposal outlining how you will approach the evaluation, your methodology, breakdown of the fee and a timetable (maximum 2 A4 sides.)

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 17 September 2014, midday.

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 29 September.

If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity or have any queries please contact:

Emma Fry, Project Coordinator Art: ADDS

Email: muralla_emlou@yahoo.com

For enquiries between 6^th and 16^th September, please contact:

Shelley Cater-Shipway, CVAN NW Regional Coordinator

Email: S.Cater-Shipway@preston.gov.uk

Image: Edwina Fitzpatrick with a video camera attached to a 1.7 metre helium filled balloon part of a year long experiment involving videoing forest thresholds working with the Forestry Commission in Grizedale Forest, one of several organisations working to strengthen the visual arts through CVAN North West. – See more at: http://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk/news/cvan-north-west-seeks-freelance-project-coordinator/#sthash.syHek7Kl.dpuf