Inspiring People Activity Plan Developer Consultant s Brief ABOUT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY Established in 1856, the aim of the National Portrait Gallery London is to promote through the medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media. Founded on the principle that the paintings on display should reflect the status of the sitter, not the artist, the Gallery has collected the likenesses of famous people in British history. Today, the Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, and, as one of the country s leading museums, drawing more than 2 million in recent years. The Primary Collection of paintings, sculptures, miniatures, drawings, prints and photographs contains some 11,100 portraits. Of these more than 4,150 are paintings, sculptures and miniatures, nearly 60% of which are regularly displayed at the National Portrait Gallery or elsewhere, including two houses managed by the National Trust. In addition, there are some 6,800 works on paper, shown on a rotating basis of about 300 items a year. The Gallery is always keen to find new ways to share the Collection through the National Programmes as well as through their website. Like other national museums, the Gallery is supported both by the government and increasingly by a large number of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations, as well as income from ticketed exhibitions, retail, catering, and events. The Gallery aims to bring history to life through its extensive display, exhibition, research, learning, outreach, publishing and digital programmes. These allow the Gallery to stimulate debate and to address questions of biography, diversity and fame which lie at the heart of issues of identity and achievement. The Gallery strives to be the foremost centre for the study of and research into portraiture, as well as making its work and activities of interest to as wide a range of visitors as possible. Further information about the National Portrait Gallery can be found on our website http://www.npg.org.uk. The National Portrait Gallery houses a unique collection of all forms of portraiture of the people who have made or who are making British history and culture. In recent years the Gallery has attracted up to 2 million visits a year and is among London s most popular museums. It reaches and engages these, and further UK and global audiences with its extensive display, exhibition, research, learning, outreach, publishing, digital and national programmes. As we embark on a major 35.5m capital project and programme development, the Inspiring People Project, we are looking for an organised and self-sufficient individual with experience of developing Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Activity plans and/or National programmes within the cultural sector to support the Gallery in completing the Stage 2 Activity Plan. The successful consultant will have experience of co-ordinating events with multiple partners and stakeholders and have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Inspiring People The Gallery is embarking on a major renewal programme designed to transform services it provides to visitors, physical and virtual, and in the way it presents and interprets its Collection. Our ten year strategic plan, Inspiring People, places the needs of today s and future audiences at its heart. The renewed National Portrait Gallery will do this through a transformed building that will be more attractive and welcoming, consumer facing, and with a world class exhibition programme. Our permanent collections will be displayed in innovative ways that will bring to life the stories of individuals and the multiple narratives of British History and culture; and there will be enhanced space for display and exhibitions, which will allow us to welcome a larger number of visitors and provide a more enjoyable and enriching experience. The project, title Inspiring People: Transforming our National Portrait Gallery represents the initial stage of a ten year vision to deepen the public s understanding and enjoyment of the Gallery s remarkable Collection and to broaden its appeal to the widest possible audiences as well as to make the most of the building. Home to the world s largest Collection of portraits, the aim of the Gallery is to strengthen its position as the global leader in portraiture and the study of portraiture. The National Portrait Gallery has been awarded funding of 9.4m from The National Lottery towards the Inspiring People project. Our requirements In order to secure the funding of a Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Fund application which will be made in January 2019, we wish to engage an experienced freelancer/ consultant with experience of undertaking similar work and who is available to work within the agreed timescale and budget for the activity outlined in this brief. The appointed consultant will report to and work closely with the Director of Learning and Engagement, Liz Smith; the Head of Inspiring People, Silwat Haider; and the soon to be appointed Activity Plan Coordinator. The Activity Plan Developer will develop the Stage 2 Activity Plan which is a key component of the Stage 2 submission. They will bring the leadership skills to enable the Gallery to develop a holistic evidence based Activity plan that strategically delivers the interpretation, digital and programming for Inspiring People. They will map out and manage consultation and testing of all the Activity lines and produce the associated detailed plans, schedules and budgets. The Activity Plan Developer will ensure that the Gallery can evidence demand and audience need by bench-marking with peers, further developing and refining plans and ensuring that Inspiring People delivers best practice for audiences and the wider cultural sector. They will be supported by an Activity Plan Coordinator who will arrange and administrate setting up the consultation meetings. Working within an agreed consultative and planning framework for the development of the Activity Plan, they will be responsible for managing and convening a range of advisory panels for schools, families, young people (including local community representation) and wider project advisory panels to inform the detailed development of the Activity Plan. They will ensure effective partnership management, engaging named partners and stakeholders fully in the development process through creative planning and contribution to the material collated for the Stage 2 application. The Activity Plan Developer will need to undertake detailed activity planning and further project and programme research for activity on-site, across London and nationally. They will need to ensure that the
already detailed Activity Plan continues to express an integrated vision for audiences on-site, off-site and online through content, pedagogy and practice. Understanding the ambition and purpose of the Inspiring People project, they will ensure that the renewed vision for the National Portrait Gallery is central to the transformed experience for audiences at the National Portrait Gallery expressed fully within the Stage 2 Activity Plan. Role outline Creating a coherent and holistic Activity Plan, supported across the Gallery, to the standard required for the HLF Stage 2 submission. Managing and convening the audience consultation activity across the Activity Plan currently proposed as three consultation meetings for each consultation groups (teachers, families, young People (including communities). There are 11 strands of activity and it is proposed that consultation meetings are to be held for each strand in Spring, Summer and Autumn 2018, resulting in around 33 meetings. Efficiencies across multiple strands can be found where possible. Supporting the creative and in depth engagement of existing consultation fora the Gallery including the Access Advisory Panel and Youth Forum during the Development phase. Convening and managing creative planning and development meetings for the four key national and regional learning and participation programmes Inspiring People involving ensuring shared aims, objectives and outcomes for all partners are in place for all. Supporting the planning for the Sector Skills Sharing project ensuring its programme and approach is integrated and draws on the whole of the Inspiring People project to strengthen the Sector Leadership offer. Supporting the planning of the final Interpretation plan for the re-display of the Collection, ensuring a strong vision for target audiences and visitor experience can be realised. Supporting the commissioning of new digital content to align with Inspiring People content and learning programmes. Connecting with and integrating the planned audience research into the wider plan for consultation and testing of Inspiring People Fostering a culture of engagement and ownership amongst and between all partners ensure a culture of partnership is built to prepare for the delivery phase. Producing detailed evidence and conclusions of the Development Phase activity to support the content of the Stage 2 Activity Plan as required. Working across all the Activity lines with the relevant Learning and Engagement; Interpretation and Curatorial; National Programmes; Volunteers and Training staff to inform the development of the Activity Plan; collating the findings from consultation meetings and benchmarking to provide evidence for the Activity Plan.
Developing and producing detailed project plans, schedules and budgets for all lines of the Activity Plan to ensure each activity line has been tested with partners and stakeholders and can demonstrate and deliver planned outputs. Drafting and ensuring Memoranda of Understanding and/ or partnership agreements outlining terms of engagement and budgets are completed with each named Inspiring People partner named in the Activity Plan are completed for submission. You will be expected to work closely with a range of internal stakeholders and work to agreed milestones during the Development phase of the Inspiring People project. By way of illustration, we would expect within six months that you have: Facilitated all the advisory groups/ panels at least once to commence testing of the different lines of activity in the Activity Plan Analysed findings from the group and panel sessions to write the draft Stage 2 Activity Plan with the Director of Learning and Engagement for the HLF mid-point review meeting in September 2018. Established excellent working relationships with key stakeholders across the Gallery to further the development of the Activity Plan Established effective methods of mapping and managing communications with all named Activity Plan partners in the Activity Plan. A more detailed delivery plan would be agreed on appointment. Experience, Knowledge and Skills Preferably educated to Degree level in a relevant subject (Arts, History, Humanities or equivalent) A clear understanding of pedagogy and learning within the arts and cultural sector A strong creative ideas and passion developing content and experiences to engage and develop audiences Experience and/ or understanding of a broad range of audiences and the diversity of their needs, motivations and interests Experience of developing HLF Activity plans within the cultural sector Experience of developing audience focused Interpretative planning documents Experience of developing sector skills sharing and training programmes Experience of managing programmes with multiple partners and stakeholders Experience of establishing cultivating partnership projects and programmes to establish shared understanding and positive working relationships Experience of commissioning audience research and evaluation for heritage and/ or creative cultural learning activity and projects
Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work both independently and collaboratively Keen interest in the mission and purpose of the National Portrait Gallery and building its relevance for contemporary audiences Timescales The timescales for the selection of the Activity Plan Developer are: Activity Date Consultant s Brief advertised 30 January 2018 Deadline for receipt of proposals 5pm on 9 February 2018 Interview and selection of the consultant Morning of either 20 or 21 February 2018 The contract is for 12 months. We require the appointed consultant to have the time allocation and flexibility to meet the needs of the project. This will not be uniform across the 12 month period. We expect this assignment to take approximately 100 days. Submission of Proposals Proposals should cover and respond to: Understanding our requirements Background and details of relevant experience, knowledge and skills. A lump-sum fee with a breakdown of fees and costs A written proposal should be submitted by 5pm on 9 February 2018 Liz Smith, Director of Learning and Engagement. Any enquiries about the brief should emailed to Liz Smith, lsmith@npg.org.uk no later than the close of play on 1 February 2018. Liz Smith Director of Learning and Engagement January 2018