Brief – Learning & Engagement Consultant (COMMUNITY)
Position: Learning & Engagement Consultant
Responsible to: Artistic Director (Oldham Theatre Workshop)
Works closely with: Interim Chief Executive (Oldham Coliseum Theatre)
The Fee: £5,550
The fee for this project is based on the Learning and Education Consultant working 30 days at a daily fee of £185.
Contract: Freelance
Location: Oldham Theatre Workshop; Oldham; Greater Manchester; some remote work
About Oldham Theatre Workshop
Oldham Theatre Workshop (OTW) is a creative, inclusive and quality theatre resource, contributing to the personal and social development of all people in Oldham. OTW works closely with a range of partners to create performance experiences that change lives and inspire change in communities.
About Oldham Coliseum Theatre
Oldham Coliseum Theatre provides distinctive and high-quality theatre performance and participatory activities, inspiring individuals and communities and making meaningful contributions to social and cultural regeneration in Oldham, Greater Manchester and nationally. Fostering a culture of aspiration, the theatre delivers a wide range of life-changing cultural experience, emphasising and promoting collaboration, sustainability and community cohesion.
Following the closure of the original building on Fairbottom Street on 31 March 2023, Oldham Coliseum Theatre is currently focused on delivering a cultural programme across the borough and working with Oldham Council on their plans for a new theatre opening in 2026.
The new building will be part of Oldham’s Cultural Quarter and will provide a more modern, accessible venue for performers, participants in our engagement programme and audiences from Oldham and beyond.
Background
We now have an opportunity in Oldham to examine and perhaps reset the way arts and culture is delivered, and to work with key partners, existing and new, to create an exciting new cultural enterprise for the town. One that is fully representative and reflects the diversity of Oldham (cultural and socio-economic).
One of the key objectives is to create and deliver a learning and engagement programme, led and delivered through a strategic partnership between Oldham Theatre Workshop & Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd.
This partnership will seek to engage a diverse range of communities from across Oldham in the arts as creators, participants and audience members.
Purpose of the Role
At the heart of this role is the simple idea of connection, between people, their local communities, and their local theatre / arts providers.
We are seeking an individual to work with us on a freelance basis, to lead a programme of consultation and connection across Oldham’s VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) settings. Findings from these consultations will feed directly into the planning of future cultural activity in the town.
The role will seek to build and populate sustainable networks that directly connect community leaders and VCFSE professionals to the town’s cultural offer. This foundation work will help strengthen existing programmes and to create new opportunities that enhance people’s lives through participation in the performing arts.
The post holder will be responsible for developing and delivering activities which broaden the diversity of all people engaging with Oldham’s cultural offer.
Responsibilities
- To design and deliver a range of consultation workshops / sessions that connect / re-connect and collaborate with all VCFSE organisations in Oldham.
- To enable creativity, build networks and open pathways to Oldham’s wider cultural offer.
- To manage the partnership’s evaluation processes, using e.g. KPIs, SMART targets, theories of change (ToC) and other evaluation processes to measure successes and produce relevant data and reports.
- To build strong relationships with key partners, stakeholders, community groups and participants.
Person Specification
Essential
- Creative and resourceful, with an interest and enthusiasm for engaging a wide range of communities in creative activities.
- Experience of delivering sessions, workshops and events that engage participants and/ or community leaders .
- Experience of producing data and reports measuring against key project outcome criteria.
- A grounding in the evaluation of arts, learning or community-facing activities and events.
- Knowledge of Health and Safety practices, risk assessment, safeguarding and safe working practices as they pertain to art projects, community events and workshops.
- Good understanding of inclusion and diversity with the commitment to applying these in practice.
- Self-starter, able to operate independently as well as part of a small team.
- Strong administrative skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A highly organised approach to work and demonstrable ability to work under pressure and to deadline.
Desirable
- Excellent knowledge of the theatre and arts industry.
- Good understanding of current cultural policy and issues.
- Experience of Community or Applied Arts.
Application
To apply, please send your C.V. and a covering letter (max one side A4) to otw@oldham.gov.uk by 29/03/2024.
If you would prefer to submit your application via another medium, such as video, please get in touch.
We strongly welcome expressions of interest from the South Asian community and those with lived experience and would like our future team to be representative of the diversity of our town. We want to create a community where everyone feels valued regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. Therefore, we actively encourage people with different backgrounds to join us.