BwD Venues

Stories and archival brief

King George’s Hall (KGH) is seeking to appoint a creative team for its new Arts Council England funded Centenary project: ‘Walls have ears – 100 years in and counting’.  The project aims to create a digital visual and audio archive of memories of activities at the hall from its opening to the present day.  Findings are to be creatively displayed digitally and physically, and through a programme of local events (including a temporary exhibition during our centenary celebrations).

Introduction

King George’s Hall was built as a public hall, opened in 1921, as has been at the heart of the Blackburn community ever since.  Further information about the history of the hall can be found here: The History of King George’s Hall – BwD Venues

As Covid-19 took hold and the last majority of our events were cancelled during 2020, King George’s Hall utilised the time to begin overhauling their archive in preparation for the centenary year in 2021.  By compiling a list of shows from diaries, What’s on guides, posters, newspaper clippings and on line resources, we now have a relatively full list of the history of the hall.

We see the ‘Walls have ears’ project as a vital way to engage with our community whilst the doors remain closed.  We want to bring our heritage to life as part of our celebrations in October 2021 through talking to people for whom the venue has played a role in their experience of Blackburn across the past 100 years.

Main Purpose of Job

To create an engaging digital archive and a portfolio of oral histories that tell the story of our first 100 years.  The project needs to focus on community engagement, getting local people involved in sharing their memories of King George’s Hall, and building awareness and momentum for the Centenary celebrations.  You will be expected to work proactively and creatively with local communities, partners and voluntary / public sector agencies in promoting the centenary of King George’s Hall.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the project, including:

• conducting oral history interviews
• managing the Oral History Archive, efficiently organizing and storing the collected oral histories
• recruiting, supporting and coordinating volunteers
• organising interviews and appropriate training for volunteers
• publicise the Archive Project and project’s programme of events with support from the venue marketing team
• develop ways to share the collected histories, through pop-up exhibitions, online sharing, and other presentations
• undertaking research and creating materials for use on the website and in the temporary exhibition
• make existing materials accessible electronically via the BwDVenues.com website
• work with the venue team to identify and pursue funding sources that will grow and sustain the Archive Project
• to manage and monitor the events/activity and engagement budget for the Archive project
• placing existing materials into protective packaging

Applicants should have previous experience working in heritage projects and with volunteers, knowledge of and interest in performing arts and an understanding of archiving and oral history. They should also have excellent organisational and communication skills.

We are looking to appoint in March 2020 with the project commencing as soon as possible thereafter and completing in September 2021.

For further information about who we are and what we do please visit www.bwdvenues.com

How to apply

If you are interested in tendering for this work please email Rebecca Weaver with a brief proposal (maximum 4 sides A4) outlining your methodology and approach, giving examples of related work that you have undertaken in recent years, a fee structure together with your contact details and two references.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to make a short presentation to the Interview Panel.

Please send your tender to: Rebecca.weaver@blackburn.gov.uk

Any questions during the tender period can be addressed to Rebecca Weaver

Additional Information

• The maximum fee for this contract is £7,000 including travel and expenses (exc. VAT).
• The Contract will commence March 2021 through to early September 2021.
• Evidence of Public Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity Insurance will be required.
• The project team will be expected to work a combination of remotely, on site at King George’s Hall and possibly other sites across the borough if the location of materials demands it.
• There is a certain amount of physical sorting, lifting and moving of archives and other material associated with this work

Timetable

• Deadline for tender submission is 9am on Friday 5 March 2021
• Interviews will be held w/c 15 March 2021
• Appoint Project Team by 19 March 2021
• Submission of final project report September 2021