Gustav the pigeon: Writer in Residence brief The D-Day Story, Portsmouth

Summary: The D-Day Story, Portsmouth's newest museum, is seeking a Writer in Residence to tell the story of the pigeon. The story will be published as an illustrated children’s book aimed at six to eight year olds. We anticipate that the residency will run over six to eight weeks between March and May 2019. A fee of £2,250 is offered for nine days' work. A schedule of full or half days will be agreed at the start of the residency. The fee is inclusive of travel expenses.

Context: The D-Day Story The D-Day Story, located in Portsmouth on England’s south coast, is one of six museums managed by Portsmouth City Council. It re-opened in March 2018 after a £5 million redevelopment. The museum uses the personal accounts of people who were there, authentic Second World War objects and stunning audio visual presentations to tell the story of the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944 and the liberation of France from Nazi Germany.

The story is one of courage and determination, comradeship and sacrifice, secrecy and deception, innovation and emotion. A story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. A story in which Portsmouth played a leading role.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded The D-Day Story a grant of just over £4 million towards its transformation and the delivery of a programme of events and activities to engage and inspire visitors of all ages. The Writer in Residence will form one strand of this programme. www.theddaystory.com

Context: Gustav the pigeon Gustav is one of the stars of the new museum. He was a seconded into the during the Second World War. On D-Day he was released from an Allied ship off the coast of Normandy and flew back to Thorney Island near Portsmouth to deliver the first message from the beaches. In recognition of this feat he was awarded the PDSA - the animal equivalent of the .

Gustav was owned by a Portsmouth man and his Dickin Medal is on loan to The D-Day Story. His owner's Identity Card and Pigeon Service Badge are also on display along with a pigeon message container and a bronze model of Gustav that visitors are invited to touch.

The Residency The D-Day Story would like to publish an illustrated book telling the story of Gustav the pigeon. We anticipate that the book will be aimed at children aged six to eight. Children identify with Gustav. A book bringing his story to life will give them a way into the wider story and themes addresed by the museum.

The role of the Writer in Residence will be:

To create and write Gustav’s story.

To work with a group of children at The D-Day Story and use their response to the museum to inform your writing.

To make reference to some of the objects displayed in the museum in your writing.

To join the children at a session led by pigeon fanciers to enhance the group’s understanding of homing pigeons.

To liaise with the illustrator appointed to produce the images for the book - we appreciate that some writers are also illustrators and will be interested in both elements of the publication. Please let us know if you would like to apply for the roles of writer and illustrator.

To liaise with the publisher as necessary.

To participate in and contribute to the planning of a launch event for the book.

To attend an end of project evaluation meeting.

Writer’s fee A fee of £2,250 is offered for nine days’ work. The fee is inclusive of travel expenses. A schedule of payments will be agreed when the writer is appointed.

Timescale The residency will take place between March and May 2019.

Liaison with the illustrator and publisher is likely to take place on dates to be agreed outside this period.

The launch event will take place after May, in summer or autumn 2019.

We anticipate that planning, research, engagement with the children and writing will take place over six to eight weeks. A schedule of full or half days will be agreed at the start of the residency.

Day one will be allocated to planning the residency, familiarising yourself with The D-Day Story and meeting its staff.

Two days or half days will be allocated to working with the same group of children.

Full or half days will be allocated to the launch event and an end of project evaluation meeting.

Additional information

The project will be managed by the Learning Officer for Portsmouth Museums and supported by other members of staff as required.

The Writer will be offered space to work at The D-Day Story throughout the residency. This could include public spaces such as galleries and the café, a shared office or the museum’s learnng space.

The Learning Officer is responsible for recruiting the group of children the Writer will work with. The Writer may sometimes be asked to liaise with the group leader directly.

The Writer should have public liability insurance.

Current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate desirable.

How to apply

Applications should be sent to: Tracy Teasdale, Learning Officer Portsmouth Museum, Museum Road, Portsmouth PO1 2LJ E: [email protected]

Your application should include:

- A personal statement (max 150 words) - A project proposal (max two sides of A4) explaining the relevance of your work and experience to this project and an outline of your initial ideas for the residency and how the days available might be used. - Your approximate availability from mid-March to the end of May 2019. - Your current CV

- Examples of previous work (max three projects or publications) - Contact details for two referees (referees will only be contacted on appointment) - Confirmation of public liability insurance - £5 million in respect of each claim, without limit to the number of claims - and any DBS certificate.

Deadline for receipt of applications: 11.59pm Wednesday 27 February 2019 Interviews: Thursday 14 March 2019

Contractual arrangements The form of contract used will be Portsmouth City Council's standard Purchase Order terms. Applicants should note that by submitting a response to this brief they are agreeing to abide by this form of contract. A copy of the terms can be provided on request.