*This is a job description for which the ability to communicate fully through the medium of Welsh is essential.

Cynllun Cerdd Hedd Wyn 2015/16 & 2016/17

Job Description

Job Title: Project Manager - Cynllun Cerdd Hedd Wyn (Hedd Wyn Music Project) Status: Freelance Answerable to: The Community Arts Unit, Council and the Project Steering Group Fee: £8,700 (50 days @ £160 per day + £700 towards travel costs). Length of contract: October 2015 – September 2017 (24 months). On average two days per month but due to the nature of the project a flexible timetable must be created in response to key stages within the scheme. Location: Gwynedd and Anglesey

Background:

The project’s aim is to create a new musical piece to perform on Friday evening 4th of August, i.e the first weekend of the National 2017 in Anglesey. We will be appointing a notable composer to lead a poet / poets and a composer / composers to create new work – the words and music will be original (possibly incorporating some of Hedd Wyn’s work), and will be based on preliminary workshops in the community. There will be poetry / writing workshops from January until June 2016, with the new music being created and put together by the composer from June until January 2017. The period between January until July 2017 will be a practice period for local performers, before they joinn the BBC National Orchestra of and members of the BBC National Chorus of Wales for full rehersal in early August, which in a few days will lead to the opening concert at the Eisteddfod. The new work will be for soloists, choirs and an orchestra and will encompas various styles of different music – the intention is to also create work which is suitible to perform beyond the Eisteddfod as seperate works.

There is a considersble significance to the year of 2017 for the people of Wales, as a centerary earlier Ellis Humphrey Evans was killed. The name may not mean much to many, but his signifies one of our national contemporary myths: Hedd Wyn. Hedd Wyn was killed in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge when he was only thirty years old. A country poet who then became a chaired bard, he died before knowing he had won the National Eisteddfod chair. A loss to poetry, a loss to Wales, but looking back on his life offers us an opportunity to reflect upon this period in history where so many young men were killed on the battle fields. The history of the ‘Black Chair’ compels us to look at the perios of the Great War in its entirety in relation to Society, places of worship, youth, heroism and sacrifice. Hedd Wyn’s history represents much more than memories for that period alone and allows us to ask questions about our current stance.

The aim of commissioning new creative works will be to try and better understand what society in the second decade of the twentieth century faced. A troublous period which came into it’s culmination in the first mecanical war with such devistation not witnessed before. The world then is

1 very different to what we are familiar with today, but essentials such as life and death, fighting and creating are unfortunetly common to both ages.

This project is not a Hedd Wyn biography, but to mankind during a period of crisis: the aim is to respond creatively to this chapter, unbiasly, by comissioning new literature and music with the local community and with proffesional poets and musicians in Wales.

This project will bring together the National Park Authority’s plans to develop Yr Ysgwrn into a heritage site of National importance. In addition the project is timely following important changes in some of Wales’s National bodies which are part of the scheme i.e the National Eisteddfod of Wales (Elen Elis, Eisteddfod Organiser), Snowdonia National Park Authority (Naomi Jones, Yr Ysgwrn) and BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Michael Garvery, Director). The project also includes representatives from Literature Wales who will advise on the literature aspects of the project.

The final work will bring together the themes realised in the initial workshops. These workshops are integral to the final work as they will compile the feelings of a wide spectrum of people towards the themes of Hedd Wyn’s ode in a contemporary context.

The creative community work will be led by the composer; and the hope is he / she will be able to mentor young composers to develop the craft of writing for a large ensemble and in so doing providing professional development opportunities. In the same way, local performaers from Gwynedd and Anglesey (such ar choirs and bras bands) can be involved in the project with professional performers. There will be an opportunity for an artistic director to stage the project to ensure professionalism on all levels.

Purpos of the role:

The Project Manager will lead the project administration and practical matters, will be responsible for realising the project as outlined in the grant application presented to the Arts Council for Wales. The Project Manager will be responsible for timetabling and co-ordinating duties, minute taking and reporting to the Steering Group, evaluating and monitoring quality of activities, budget management and communication and promotion of the project to a variety of audiences.

Main roles and responsibilities:

• Administrating and advertising the composer(s) and poet(s) roles. • Working closely with the composer and artists in order to realise and reflect the project’s vision whilst programming • Working closely with eh Eisteddfod Office regarding the organisation of the artistic workshops, choirs, other ensembles and arrangements regarding the actual opening concert • Execute the Steering Groups decisions to realise the Cynllun Cerdd Hedd Wyn partnership’s objectives whilst promoting contact with current funders and with prospective funders as well as forging stronger connections with Anglesey County Council. • Managing the project budget in accordance with Gwynedd Council financial proceedures and grant terms.

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• Coordinate and progrmme participatory community workshops and ensure attendance to the workshops • Preparing risk assessments for the workshops and ensure complience with all appropriate policies and proceedures • Collect and transfer creative works from the writing workshops to the comoser and artistic director • Market and promote the project e.g. prepering press releases and using social media • Supporting the coordination of rehersals and timetabling • Writing progress reports and similar documents about the project • Report back to the Steering Group and complete written reports to present to project funders • Prepare a final report to the Arts Council of Wales • Data and information management for monitoring and evaluation purposes • Support the work of promoting and staging the concert at the National Eisteddfod.

Timetable:

Advertise the Project Manager Role August 201 5

Project Manager to start in post October 2015

Create project operational plan October 2015

Administrate and advertise the composer and poet October 2015 – November 2015 roles

Community workshops January 2016 – July 2016

Creation of new works / compo sing July 2016 – December 2016

Rehersals January 2017 – August 2017

Performance – National Eisteddfod, Anglesey Friday evening 4 August 2017

Project closure – presentation of final report to End of September 201 7 Arts Council of Wales and Steering Group

Key Partners:

• Gwynedd Council (Lead Partner) • National Eisteddfod of Wales • Yr Ysgwrn, Snowdonia National Park Authority • Literature Wales • Arts Council of Wales (and possible other funders / sponsors) • Anglesey Council • BBC National Orchestra of Wales

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Personal Specification:

*We are willing to accept applications by companies or individuals for this role.

Essential Desirable

Training, Experience and Qualifcations • History of project management . • History of success regarding fundraising for • Ability to manage budgets. projects. • Experience of report writing and evaluation • Qualification and / or experience of working on arts realated projects. • Previous experience of programming participatory workshops. • Full driving licence and access to a car. Skills an d Information • *The ability to communicate fluently through • Understanding of the area ’s culture , the area the medium of English and Welsh, verbally and and it’s people. using writing skills. • An awareness of the arts and of Welsh • Evaluation, monitoring and report writing cultute and heritage. skills. • Experience of risk assessing. • Effective time management skills. • Excellent organiation skills. • Excellent IT skills. • Translating documents • Meeting minute taking • Experience of using social media. Inter -personal Skills • Advanced inter -personal and communication • Experience of public speaking. skills whilst dealing with a awide variety of partners. • Present a positive image of yourself and of the partnership through effective and appropriate communication. Specia l Conditions • You must have Access to a car as travel accross Gwynedd, Anglesey and beyond will be required. • Availability to work at weekends, evenings and Bank Holidays from time to time. • Availability to work during school holidays. • Live within a reasonable travel distance to the job location. • Need to be flexible in relation to work patterns. • You must be available during the first weekend of the National Eisteddfod 2017 and during the weeks following up to the performance. Physical Requirements • There may be long periods of sitting and standing. • The work will involve lifting heavy items within health and safety guidelines regarding lifting and handing.

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Selection:

The successful company / individual will be appointed following an interview, based upon previous experience and answers to interview questions. The interview panel will include representatives from Gwynedd Council, Cynllun Cerdd Hedd Wyn Steering Group ac possibly the Arts Council of Wales.

To make an application:

Email the followng items to - [email protected]

• An expression of interest explaining why you would like to be considered for this role; no more than two sides of A4. • Up to date Curriculum Vitae no more than two sides of A4. • Two references

Closing Date: 9am, Thursday 17 September 2015

Interview Date: Monday 28 September 2015 (tbc)

Further Details:

Gwawr Wyn Roberts Community Arts Development Officer, Gwynedd Council

℡ 01286 67971 / 07789 032517 / [email protected]

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