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S&P Sephardi Community and Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage

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S&P Sephardi Community and Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage S&P Sephardi Community and Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation ‘Bevis Marks: Britain’s Most Significant Synagogue’ Project Information to Tender For Retail Consultant Return Date: 30th October 2019 Project Brief for the Retail Consultant Introduction and Context S&P Sephardi Community and Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation has received a Round 2 Heritage Fund grant for the development of their ‘Bevis Marks: Britain’s Most Significant Synagogue project. The S&P Sephardi Community now needs to commission a Retail Consultant to work with them and the Design Team. Please contact Amanda Newman at [email protected] if you have any queries. Bevis Marks synagogue is a significant heritage asset – it’s Grade I listing; intact Wren-style furnishings; the oldest synagogue in use in the UK – but fundamental to all of these is its continued use since 1701. No other synagogue in Europe has this continuity of practice, of community, of building, of collections. As a result, Bevis Marks is the repository of a unique inheritance, both of physical collections such as ritual silver, textiles and furniture, and of intangible heritage – minhag – of melodies and customs handed down from generation to generation since the establishment of the first community post re-admission in 1656. The features of the building can be read as a social history resource: from the benches that the congregation brought with them from their first house of prayer in Creechurch Lane, to the extra small pews for the youngest children from the community orphanage, to the panes of glass carefully restored after being blown out when the IRA bombed the Baltic Exchange in 1992. However, the building and its collections are not a museum; a place to commemorate something lost. They are active elements in a religious community, continually used as part of daily worship. It is this intrinsic combination of use and heritage that is the spirit of Bevis Marks Synagogue. Many of the families who worship here descend from the first S&P Sephardi Jews to come over to England and have worshipped at Bevis Marks since it was built. There are repair and conservation works required to the synagogue to ensure it is in good repair for the future. The current layout of the modern structure adjoining the synagogue, the Annexe, no longer has the facilities and layout required to support the future business and activity plans. Both the synagogue and Annex have limited physically access which restricts their use. Like many places of worship there is an ageing congregration and access to the upper levels of the synagogue is via the staircase. The current disabled toilet is in the courtyard and cannot be accessed via the synagogue or the Annex. Collections The S&P Sephardi Community has an extensive archive that contains deeds, contractor agreements and detailed specifications for almost all of the buildings that have been erected by the community. The community kept detailed records of every birth, marriage and burial since its inception, pre-dating civil requirements in Britain by some 150 years. The archive offers an insight into the growth and establishment of Britain’s oldest Jewish community, and its spread and influence across the globe. It is the most intact archive of the early-modern Jewish community in Britain. It contains a continuously documented record of life in London, including records of the congregation’s hospital, orphanage, dower societies, schools (boys & girls), burial societies, apprentices, assistance of the bereaved and provision for arbitration for small claims. The records cover not only the Jewish community, but also the wider society within which they lived and interacted. Similarly, the archive has value for researchers of women’s history. Some of the community’s lay committees were women-led, their detailed minute books span over a hundred years, a record of women’s perspectives by their own hand. Many well-known historical characters and notable English families have connections to the community - the archive contains sources that offer insight into their lives, for instance Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, Daniel Mendoza, the World Heavyweight Champion Boxer from 1791-5 and David Ricardo the economist. There is then the intangible research as some members of Bevis Marks descend from the original community and it will be important to include them within the research and consultation. The archive is held at the London Metropolitan Archive and Lauderdale Road. Some but not all of the collections are catalogued and there is currently a project under way to start putting some of it on a CMS. It is then planned that this will also create a digital resource for visitors to use as part of the interpretation to access more of the collection. Some of the collection that dates up to 1900 has already been published, in Treasures of a London Temple (1951). Items include: ñ Ritual silver; ñ Prints; ñ Paintings; ñ Ritual textiles; ñ Archives of the community; ñ Books. There are also some: ñ Furniture (in the synagogues); ñ Fixtures (in the synagogues); ñ Photographs (a very small number). Target Audiences Target Audiences for this current HLF project which the S&P Sephardi Community is intending to engage: ñ Primary and Secondary Schools from London and further afield. ñ Heritage Visitors – for instance National Trust members, day-trippers, walking tours, national and international tourists. ñ Specialist Interest Organised Groups. ñ Specialists – academics, researchers, genealogists. ñ Local Employees – City of London business community and connected industries. ñ Local Residents – City of London / Tower Hamlets borders. ñ The Wider UK Jewish Community – synagogues, organisations and informal education. Brief The current offer in terms of merchandise is mainly limited to postcards which are kept in the entrance to the Synagogue. There is no dedicated retail area which will change as part of this project. The entrance and welcome area on the first floor of the annexe will be a mixed space of retail, café, welcome/tickets and interpretation. During peak visitor months the visitor ticket reception will take place in a small purpose built building in the Courtyard. It is important to note that the heritage visitor operations including the retail will be run by the newly set up Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation. The S&P Sephardi Community will remain responsible for all aspects of worship and community use. The Synagogue will continue to operate as a place of worship but will welcome heritage visitors outside of services. The annexe will be a space for heritage visitors, exhibitions and staff but will also be used by the Community. Therefore, all spaces have several usages. There is currently no in-house expertise around retail and this is a completely new venture for the S&P and the Foundation. The objectives of the shop will be: ñ To generate an income to contribute to us remaining sustainable and resilient in increasingly challenging economic times. ñ To ensure we have the right operating models in place to manage and maintain our retail operations in the most effective and efficient way. ñ To ensure the space available is used to maximum effect with merchandise on sale that appeals to our visitors. Therefore we are looking for a retail consultant who can: ñ Research, recommend and develop new in-house retail and merchandising strategies for the Foundation. Your report should include estimated costs/benefits (including net income potential) of each option, and specific advice on stock selection, visual merchandising and ways to market and launch these options. ñ Help us to prepare for and launch this new retail “offer” at our Synagogue; ñ Advise us on options for managing and maintaining new strategies. ñ Operational arrangements needed to manage and maintain a new retail offer at the Synagogue for example IT systems, storage space requirement, stock control, sharing a till with the café, staff/volunteer roles and responsibilities. ñ Advice on the balance between shop space, café and staff workspace. For example given the limited space how shop and café can be integrated. ñ How the merchandise is positioned for example would the shop be more successful if things are grouped together around the entrance. Will high value merchandise need a locked cabinet? ñ How will merchandise on sale be stored when the space is closed to visitors but in use by the community i.e. on Saturdays it is closed to visitors but the community will be attending service and using the annexe afterwards. Will the merchandise be taken off the shelves and put away or will shutters be required. ñ The architects will design integrated shop joinery and provide adjustable shelves for the retail consultant to review. Please note that review of these designs will need to take place in November 2019. The final shop fit out/layout including any countertop stands, hooks, additional shelves, shop signage, cabinets and moveable freestanding units will be the responsibility of the Retail Consultant. Your work must be based on evidence and best practice elsewhere, which should be clearly referenced. We need to know what has worked well/less well elsewhere at other heritage attractions and museums. Your recommendations must be realistic and specific to our services. Copywrite S&P Sephardi Community/Bevis Mark Synagogue Heritage Foundation will own the copyright of the plans and materials produced. Fee There is currently an available budget of £7,000 is inclusive of all expenses but excluding VAT. Experience / Knowledge We are seeking to appoint a Retail Consultant demonstrate the following: ñ Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively with an S&P Sephardi Community with limited resources. ñ Experience and knowledge of working within heritage visitor attractions market. ñ Team players and joint working with the Architects and Design Team.
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