Cultural Collective Project

Toonspeak are recruiting for a freelance Lead Artist within a national project - ‘Culture Collective’. A creative visionary with a passion for community arts projects, with the experience to deliver a large-scale project. WHO WE ARE Toonspeak is a youth-led arts organisation based in , on a mission to transform lives through creativity. We work with children and young people aged 0-25 in areas of multiple deprivation, supporting young people who face additional challenges. The aim of our activities is to enable young people to realise their potential, and become leaders and contributing members of their communities.

For more information www.toonspeak.co.uk

About the ROLE

We are looking to recruit a Lead Artist who will have extensive experience in delivering participatory arts work to a range of different individuals and community groups. It is essential that this person has a community-led, development approach and embraces an equalities, diversity and inclusion approach. This artist may be from any art form background e.g. dance, circus, drama, visual arts, music, film. The Lead Artist will play an essential role in consulting with local organisations and community groups, recruiting participants while being responsive to individual’s needs, supporting their creative journey by providing unique and compelling arts activities and projects and taking responsibility for legacy opportunities after the project has finished. (Support will be provided from our Culture Collective Project Coordinator, Toonspeak Programme Manager and the project partners.)

In addition, the Lead Artist will work with the Toonspeak Programme Manager and Culture Collective Project Coordinator in the recruitment of a team of associate artists and assistants. The Lead Artist will support the delivery of arts workshops and projects to local people in Ward 17 of Glasgow ( / / / / ) as well as working with the Project Coordinator to mentor the other artists involved. This may be up to ten additional artists (at varying career points within their own artistic practice), all of whom will be empowered to creatively respond to the identified needs and interests of the community, and the project steering group. As well as the delivery artists, the project will include support from a Dramaturg to help guide the narrative of the expected performance.

Workshops will take place from September 2021, culminating in a celebratory community performance in Summer 2022. The Lead Artist will have the artistic vision to creatively steer all participating groups towards one artistic outcome, and will be supported by additional Production staff, experienced in the facilitation of live events.

The Culture Collective project will be delivered in person, in venues such as community centres, church halls and arts venues when Covid restrictions permit and may include working outdoors. However it may be necessary to deliver at times online, via Zoom (for which support and training will be given.)

About the project Toonspeak is one of twenty six organisations awarded funding by Creative as part of the Culture Collective national pilot programme, which will establish a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally in response to COVID-19. The Culture Collective project for Toonspeak will be based in Ward 17, in the North of Glasgow. A quarter of the datazones in Ward 17 are among the 5% most deprived datazones in Scotland. Therefore a crucial element is that the artists contracted will be passionate about using the arts to empower communities who face challenges of multiple deprivation, and to improve the lives of individuals. Artists will be trained and supported to see themselves as part of the community and we will capitalise on the expertise and knowledge of partners to support the creative team with a deep understanding of the social, cultural and historical landscape in which this project will take place.

Toonspeak’s Programme Manager will take on the Project Manager role which will include providing line management support to the Project Coordinator and Lead Artist, who respectively will manage and creatively mentor a team of Associate Artists and Assistant Artists.

Whilst the creative output of Toonspeak is primarily theatre based, working with children and young people, the Culture Collective programme will also involve adults and older people in a range of different art forms. The work created will form a celebratory multi-faceted performance in Summer 2022 for all of the community to enjoy. The intention is for this intergenerational performance to take place in a local park. Key knowledge, experience and skills: A minimum of 5 years’ experience of delivering participatory arts activities in a community context. Proven track record of working with a range of different ages, genders, abilities and ethnicities in artistic and creative experiences. Experience of working with an equalities, diversity and inclusion approach to support vulnerable group’s involvement. Ability to deliver participatory workshops outside, inside public buildings and online. Experience of creating/directing community performances, public sharings and working in collaboration with a Production Manager/team. Ability to support individuals and communities to create arts work that culminates in a mixed art form collaborative, community performance. Able to articulate a clear understanding of the importance of the role of the arts in effecting social change and improving the lives of people. Experience of mentoring, delivering training or supporting artists to deliver an artistic and creative programme. A positive, proactive, and flexible approach that is responsive to the participants and steering group’s needs. Track record in using monitoring and evaluation methods and contributing to reports. Ability to work online and remotely with Google, Zoom, MS Teams, and databases (we don’t expect you to be an expert in all of these!) Be willing to work flexibly (working from home, from the Toonspeak office, other spaces offered by our partners) when Covid restrictions permit and attending performances/ workshops/meetings out of office hours as necessary (this may include some weekend working.) Knowledge and/or experience of Ward 17 of Glasgow (Springburn, Robroyston, Barmulloch, Balornock and Millerston) would be advantageous though not essential. The Post: This post will be offered on a temporary, freelance basis.

Fee: £27,000

Hours of work: The project will start on 9 August 2021 and continue for 13 months. The fee is based on the equivalent of 40 weeks of full time work and the pattern of the hours will be dictated by the needs of the project as it develops. It is likely to include some weekend work and full-time weeks in the lead up to the final piece and over holiday periods when more intensive workshops will be possible. We are looking for someone who is able to be flexible but will of course ensure that other work highlighted by candidates at the interview is considered.

Our partners

The Culture Collective programme is supported by five partners who form the core steering group, the Coordinator will chair these meetings and give feedback to the Lead Artist.

Each of these organisations have extensive track records of delivery, links in the community and key expertise to offer the Culture Collective programme.

Barmulloch Community Development Company https://www.bcdcglasgow.co.uk

Beatroute Arts https://www.beatroutearts.com

Spirit of Springburn SCIO Tron St Mary’s https://tronstmarys.org.uk

Wallacewell Community Fellowship https://www.wallacewell.com how to apply If you are interested in applying for this role, please email your CV and a covering letter (that is no longer than one page) highlighting your experience.

In your cover letter, please also answer the following question;

Why is the project, ‘Culture Collective’ so important?

In the email, please include examples of your work, with links to your website or project examples.

Please make sure you add, ‘Lead Artist Application’ into the email subject heading. Please ensure that your CV details two references, that we can contact with your permission (we will only take up references if we are offering you the position).

Email to [email protected] by Monday 19 July 2021 at 5.00pm.

Toonspeak is committed to access, diversity and representation, and we actively encourage applicants from different backgrounds and with different experiences in order to develop and strengthen the organisation, evolve our programmes, and better reflect the communities we serve.

Should you have any access requirements or need any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to apply for this role, please contact [email protected]

Please note Interviews will take place via zoom. We have included a date range for second interviews but may appoint after the first round.

Applications Open : Wednesday 30 June 2021

Applications Close : Monday 19 July 2021 at 5.00pm

Shortlist Applications & Notify by : Wednesday 21 July 2021

Interviews : Mon 26 - Wed 28 July 2021 2nd Interviews: Mon 2 - Wed 4 Aug

Preferred Start Date : Monday 9 August 2021 *Please note this date is flexible.