We wish to engage a Creative Advisor to help us shape a series of three events in the gallery in October. The events will draw on the Crafts Council Collection as a starting point and create a space to think about the Collection from a range of different perspectives. The Creative Advisor will share expertise, co-developing a space to explore the positives and negatives of public collections, making them relevant to new young audiences.
‘Unboxing the Collection’ provides an opportunity to reveal objects, processes and makers to a new audience of craft enthusiasts, as well as begin to open up a discussion about what, why and how we should collect in the future.
Working with the Public Programmes team at Crafts Council, and supported on delivery by a Young Craft Citizen, you will have the opportunity to explore works from the Collection that have not been seen for more than a decade, using them as a jumping off point to devise a series of three talks/in conversations/events.
These could, for example, take the form of an in conversation with the maker of the object, an exploration of technique or process inherent in a piece, or inviting a contemporary maker or curator to interrogate or challenge what is held in the collection, or what is missing. It could be a panel discussion about the relevance of collections and who and why things get chosen.
What is vital, however, is that the programme appeals to and is relevant to an audience that is young, interested in craft but may not have visited the Crafts Council before, creating an environment which is accessible and inclusive. Our Communication Team will support the project in achieving this.
As part of the events, we can offer attendees the opportunity to view our newly refurbished collection store on site, where conservation and care work takes place, and our handling collection is located. Our collection team will facilitate this process.
We invite one of the three events to engage with this year’s Black History Month theme – ‘reclaiming narratives’. This event should create a space for an honest and open exploration of the Crafts Council Collection through the perspective of Black History.
Project aims
- To stimulate interest, awareness and debate about the Crafts Council Collection for a new, young audience
- To create thought provoking public programming around the Collection which is inclusive and accessible
- To reveal stories, objects, processes and makers that have not been seen for many years
- A collaboratively developed programme shaped by an outside Creative Advisor to generate new perspectives and insight to the Collection
- To introduce new, young audiences to the process of collection care, demystifying collections management and careers in collection care and curation
Supported by the Public Programmes team and Young Craft Citizen you will:
- Attend meetings at CCHQ or online, and communicate via email, submit written project plans, conduct Collection research
- Co-develop a concept for the overall programming and sub themes for three events taking place on Thursday 3, Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October with the Public Programmes team and Young Craft Citizen
- Assist in the development of a clear delivery plan
- Suggest speakers/panellists/artists to feature in the programming which bring new perspectives to Crafts Council Collection
- Secure the participants in the programming
- Input into creative production
- Feed into ideas on marketing and audience engagement
The Public Programmes team and Young Craft Citizen will:
- Work collaboratively with you
- Take care of all event logistics & delivery and finance requirements
- Facilitate access to the Crafts Council Collection
- Set up the booking system and manage invitations
- Manage marketing and PR through Crafts Council’s channels
- Capture audience data to ensure key aims are met
- Work with you to ensure your time is used efficiently e.g. setting up meetings etc
Outputs & Outcomes
- 3 x events in the gallery dates Thursday 3, Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October, with 45 attendees at events
- 25 objects revealed and displayed as part of the process
- 70% of surveyed attendees gained an understanding of collection care
- 80% of surveyed attendees feel they know more about Crafts Council Collection
Project Timeline
- July: Recruitment of creative producer & initial meetings
- August - September: Further engagement with team and Collection, shaping the programme
- October ‘Unboxing the Collection’ delivered.
Fee:
A fee of £200per day inclusive of VAT and expenses. Days worked to be agreed as part of the recruitment process. With a proposed estimate of three days research and planning time.
There will be a set budget for commissioning speakers and event production, you will work with the team to allocate and manage the budget mainly for the procurement of speakers/panellists/artists. Depending on your proposal you may also feed into the management of the event production budget.
About you
- You are an emerging or established curator, creative producer or creative programmer
- You will have a passion for bringing objects, processes and people within a collection to life in a creative and engaging way
- You have a proven love for craft
- You are involved in projects with great teamwork, which are ambitious but realistic within the parameters, you are comfortable working to a deadline
- You have evidencable experience in working collaboratively to deliver thought provoking, powerful programming that is accessible and creates an inclusive environment for the public
- Your work embodies the Crafts Councils values of Pioneering, Open and Playful, bringing new perspectives and approaches to the programming