Unlocking the Potential ProjectConsultant Brief – Narrative Study

Arts Council Museum Resilience Funding 2015

In 2015 Museums of Cheshire successfully bid for an ACE Resilience grant to support the group to further unlock the potential of MoC to create a more resilient and sustainable sub-regional organisation.

The project represents a step change for the group in terms of the amount of funding sought and the proposed activities. At its core is the belief that the potential for excellence can be found in museums of all types and sizes which is demonstrated by the MoC group.

The Unlocking the Potential project will focus on three key areas:

1. Strengthening the organisation through delivery of an organisational skills audit, and production of a training and development plan.

2. Sharing our stories through this commissioned research and subsequent joint initiatives and projects.

3. Measuring our impact through delivery of baseline research into the combined social and economic impact of the Museums of Cheshire member organisations, and identifying ways we can enhance these impacts through partnership working.

In order to achieve these aims the project includes a number of development activities including:

Appointment of a Project Manager to oversee delivery and completion of the grant funded activity

Organisational skills audit, and production of a training and development plan Baseline research to establish the economic and social impacts of Cheshire’s

museums A new website for Museums of Cheshire A narrative study which identifies themes and stories which are significant across our

venues and can be the inspiration for new partnership working - this brief relates solely to this part of the Unlocking the Potential project.

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Delivery of a conference for members and museum professionals across the wider region.

Narrative Study – Outline of Requirements

MoC are now looking for a consultant to carry out research and produce an advocacy tool which will inform our future direction and joint activity. We require a consultant to review venues and collections across our member organisations, and to produce a document which sets out the shared stories of our members and new ideas about how we can use these stories and our collections to engage with target audiences and develop partnership work, for example to:

Develop shared learning resources and public programmes Create new marketing initiatives which promote Museums of Cheshire as a network

of linked venues Create interesting, accessible and informative content for our forthcoming website,

to be commissioned in early 2016 Develop new projects and collaborations, potentially though creating smaller

‘thematic’ cluster groups in addition to the main MOC network Facilitate loans and sharing of objects to enhance public access to our collections.

(Please note this is not an exhaustive list – we are open to new ideas!)

We would also like the consultant to attend and contribute to the Museums of Cheshire Conference, which is scheduled for one day in February 2016.

We envisage the report as consisting of two sections:

A narrative report which sets out the most dynamic, remarkable and accessible themes, ideas and stories within our collections which resonate across Museums of Cheshire venues and are accessible to a number of target audiences.

A set of proposals for how these narratives and themes can be used to create new content and projects – looking at exhibitions, learning, events, marketing, curatorial/research, training and creative projects.

Methodology

We are open to consultants suggesting a methodology for this piece of work, bearing in mind the following:

You will be able to work closely with the MOC project manager, who has recently visited all of the venues and carried out an interview with a senior member of staff.

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Relevant information about each venue will be made available, including a comprehensive spreadsheet of website and contact information for each MOC partner organisation.

We do not expect the consultant to visit each venue, and see this as primarily a desk and phone based research exercise.

We hold well-attended regular network meetings which could provide an opportunity for the consultant to test and develop ideas with members.

Budget and Timescales

The available budget is £3000 to include VAT and travel and subsistence expenses.

The final report must be delivered by the end of January 2016, as it will inform the content of our conference which is scheduled for late February 2016.

Submitting a proposal

Consultants are invited to apply by submitting a proposal that demonstrates:

Your approach and process/method to work with the steering group and MoC members.

Range and depth of relevant experience in delivering this type of project including working with a number of stakeholders.

Schedule indicating proposed timetable, breakdown of your time for activities and an indication of your daily rate.

Please provide the name of 2 referees who have experience of working with you on similar projects.

Reporting Relationships

The budget is managed by Culture Warrington. For day to day issues you will report directly to the MOC Unlocking the Potential project manager, Kate Rodenhurst. In addition you will liaise with, and give progress updates, to the MoC steering group consisting of: Janice Hayes (Collections, Heritage and Archives Manager at Culture Warrington), Kath Lynch (Heritage Manager at Port Sunlight Museum), Sue Hughes (Director of Silk Heritage Trust) and Frank Hargrave (Director of Norton Priory Museum).

Schedule

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The project is due to begin as soon as possible with final report to be delivered by the end of January 2016. The MoC conference will be scheduled some time in late February.

Deadline for submissions is 21st September at 5pm If necessary, interviews will be held on 29th September, in Port Sunlight.

Please email submissions to katerodenhurst@mac.com

Contact: For any further details please contact Kate Rodenhurst, Project Manager for Museums of Cheshire on 0151 724 1608 / 07956 352 779 or email katerodenhurst@mac.com

Assessment criteria for our selectionSelection criteria Tender InterviewQuality of application, clarity of approach/ process XValue for Money/Outcomes X XExtent to which consultant(s) demonstrate understanding and particular requirements of this brief and project

X X

Clear and robust process/ method which works with MoC to engage members and delivers outcomes

X X

Excellent communication skills: both internally and externally XRange and depth of relevant experience, including working with similar groups and working with other consultants

X X

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Background:

Museums of Cheshire

Museums of Cheshire (MoC), until 2013 known as Cheshire Museums Forum, is a group formed over 25 years ago. Members of MoC are Accredited museums (as administered by Arts Council England) or museums that are recognised as “working towards Accreditation”. It is a voluntary group, though until local government re-organisation in 2008 it had the support of the County Museums Officer as its Secretary. The group was formed to support and promote museums within Cheshire as it was defined before the local government boundary changes of 1974, 1998 and 2009. Today this is represented by museums within the local authority boundaries of:

Cheshire East Cheshire West and Chester Halton Warrington Wirral

The collections of each museum are unique and offer an individual experience for its visitors and communities. Together they tell the rich and diverse story of the people and events of the area. The full list of current MOC venues is as follows:

Managing Organisation VenueCulture Warrington Warrington MuseumPort Sunlight Village Trust Port Sunlight MuseumMacclesfield Silk Museums Trust Macclesfield Silk Museum

Paradise MillThe Old Sunday SchoolWest Park Museum

Wirral Borough Council Williamson Art GalleryBirkenhead Priory

Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum Englesea Brook Chapel and MuseumWest Cheshire Museums Grosvenor Museum

Lion Salt WorksStretton WatermillWeaver Hall

Museum of Policing in Cheshire Museum of Policing in CheshireCongleton Museum Trust Congleton MuseumNantwich Museum Nantwich MuseumNorton Priory Museum Charitable Trust Norton Priory Museum and GardensCheshire East Council Tatton ParkAnson Museum Trust Anson Engine MuseumCheshire Military Museum Trust Cheshire Military MuseumCatalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

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Museums of Cheshire Purpose and Aims

The purpose of the group is to work collaboratively to enhance the aims of the constituent museum services to increase:

Use Accessibility Learning opportunities Community engagement Awareness and promotion Sustainability Income and Value for Money Partnerships

MoC bring museums to work together on projects and initiatives that would not be possible for individual museums on their own or where there is clear advantage in sharing resources and collaborating for mutual benefit. Working together the group aims to:

Promote best practice – through sharing experience, skills and expertise Increase awareness of the role and work of museums today Be a voice for all museums and the collective activity of the Museums of Cheshire Improve marketing and publicity for the museums Develop skills of staff and volunteers – through training and continuing professional

development Establish and nurture partnerships that are more effective on a larger scale Increase efficiency and value for money through economies of scale – through joint

purchasing and commissioning Maximise inward investment from external funding opportunities

Museums of Cheshire Achievements

The members of the group have been working together for some time as an effective professional network. This has been especially valuable in a time of great change for museums across the country and with ever increasing pressures on funding for the services. This has included funded projects related to philanthropy, fundraising and volunteer management.

In 2012 and 2014 the group successfully applied for Museum Development North West Sustainable Improvement Funding. These grants gave the group the opportunity to explore the administration and management of the group, to appraise the option of formally constituting the organisation and identifying ways to make the group more resilient. It also supported the development of the MoC brand, from the basics of designing a logo to promoting recognition of the group, producing greater influence in the market place, raising profile and increasing visitors.

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Over the last few years the group has worked with Marketing Cheshire (the local tourist board) to develop the brand and the group’s marketing and promotion. The most recent development has focused on connecting museums, working in clusters and encouraging visitors to be more likely to travel from one destination to another. It has worked to improve the product knowledge of customer-facing staff and volunteers to cross-promote and provide an outstanding level of customer service. There has also been a strand specifically exploring the impact of the Viewpoint customer survey machines and how they can be use more effectively to promote the MoC brand and joint intelligence.

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