Revealing the Charterhouse Activity Plan
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. Revealing the Charterhouse Activity Plan September 2014 Version Date Description Comment Ver 1.1 3rd October 2013 First draft Ver 1.2 10th October 2013 Second draft Incorporating feedback and additional narrative from Frazer Swift, MoL Ver 1.3 23rd October 2013 Third draft Incorporating feedback and additional narrative from Charterhouse Ver 1.4 24th October 2013 Fourth Draft Final Review Dominic Tickell and Frazer Swift Ver 1.5 September 2014 Draft Final Update 7 Straiton View Straiton Business Park Loanhead, Midlothian EH20 9QZ T. 0131 440 6750 F. 0131 440 6751 E. [email protected] www.jura-consultants.co.uk CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Executive Summary i. 1. Introduction 1. 2. Where are we now? 4. 2.1 The Charterhouse 2.2 Museum of London 2.3 Partnership Agreement 2.4 Pilot Activities 3. Consultation feedback 20. 4. Interpretive concept and market appraisal 22. 4.1 Interpretive Concept 4.2 Guided Tour 4.3 Market Appraisal 4.4 Competitor and Comparator Review 5. Strategic decisions about involving people 34. 5.1 Revealing the Charterhouse Project 5.2 Learning Plan 5.3 Guided Tours 5.4 Volunteer & Training Plan 5.5 Audience Development & Public Engagement 5.6 Measuring Success 5.7 Meeting HLF’s Aims 5.8 Longer-term Benefits 6. Activity Plan 57. 6.1 Action Plan Table 6.2 Programme and Resources APPENDICES Appendix A – Service Level Agreement (Draft) Appendix B - On Street Survey Results Appendix C – Education Professionals Feedback Appendix D - Higher Education / Adult Learning Consultation Appendix E – Primary, Secondary and SEN Pilot Feedback Appendix F – National Garden Scheme Survey Results Appendix G – Tour Participant Survey Results Appendix H – Interpretive Concept Report Appendix I - Guided Tour Script Appendix J - Learning Programme Manager Job Description Appendix K - Learning Volunteer Role Description Appendix L – Volunteer Co-ordinator Job Description Appendix M - The Charterhouse Adult and Higher Education Research Appendix N – Consultation Feedback Appendix O – Project Objectives – Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Revealing The Charterhouse – DRAFT Activity Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This plan outlines the activities the Charterhouse will undertake in order to deliver the Revealing the Charterhouse project in a way that embeds the values of learning and engagement. The partnership with the Museum of London remains at the heart of the project. We have reviewed our plans rigorously, reflecting on each partners’ capacity, expertise and strategic aspirations. We are confident that our Activity Plan is realistic. Both partners remain strongly committed to the Revealing the Charterhouse vision. During the development period, we have consulted current and potential audiences, users and stakeholders. The consultation has reinforced our belief that there is a strong appetite among the general public for greater access; and that our plans must balance this against the need to respect the privacy of the Brothers. Consultation has shown that the ‘living’ presence of the Brothers is a real asset for the site. The Activity Plan has a twin focus. It is designed to deliver real short-term goals for the project whilst at the same time building firm foundations for the Charterhouse’s future as a lively, engaging and outward- looking heritage site. The short term goals have been carefully chosen to reflect the real development needs of the Charterhouse. The Charterhouse is not starting from scratch in terms of hosting volunteers, holding collections or providing public tours. However it is starting from scratch in terms of running a learning programme, albeit that this programme will be managed by the Learning Department at the Museum of London. With volunteers, audiences and collections activities, the Activity Plan aims to ‘up the game’, ensuring that future work in these areas is well -supported and carried out to good professional standards, within a long-term strategic framework which will aid the future development of a volunteer work-force and a sustainable public programme. With the learning programme, the Activity Plan aims to ‘start with a bang’. Here, there will be stronger support from the Museum around delivery as well as development; putting in place a programme that which fits seamlessly into the Museum of London’s wider learning operations. We have included details of the post-opening learning programme as part of this plan We see the investment provided by the HLF as a catalyst, providing a significant catalyst which will set the direction of travel for Charterhouse, and build institutional confidence for the future; which may in time lead to Museum accreditation. The transition between ‘project investment’ and ‘business as usual’ has been identified as one of the project risks. We have accordingly set out in this plan, a number of activities and initiatives which are Jura Consultants i Revealing The Charterhouse – DRAFT Activity Plan not budgeted for within the Revealing the Charterhouse scheme, but will nevertheless contribute towards building a sustainable culture of learning and engagement on the site. Both partners have learnt a lot during the development phase. Although some aspirations have had to be modified, in the light of resourcing and capacity, enthusiasm for the project remains at full strength. We are even more convinced than ever that Revealing the Charterhouse represents a great opportunity to create a wonderful new heritage asset for London. Jura Consultants ii Revealing The Charterhouse – DRAFT Activity Plan 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction This report presents the Activity Plan for the Revealing the Charterhouse Project. 1.2 Background The Revealing the Charterhouse project received a Round 1 pass for £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in March 2013, including a development grant of £145,300. The Revealing the Charterhouse project is designed to open up the Charterhouse, a remarkable assembly of historic buildings dating from the 14th century, to provide increased public access, enjoyment and understanding of the site. The new presentation will share the extensive and dramatic 660 year history contained within, telling the story of the site since the middle ages, right up to the present, including its special role as residential home for elderly gentlemen known as the Brothers. The project takes advantage of a strategic partnership developed with the Museum of London and focuses on the front of the estate consisting of the Charterhouse Square, the Tudor mansion and the chapel. The project is comprised of four elements: 1. Creation of a new visitor experience within the Charterhouse which includes an exhibition and interpretation space (curated by Museum of London), audio visual presentation, and shop 2. Guided tour of areas not usually open to the public 3. Opening of Charterhouse Square for public use, reinstatement of the 17th century plan, improvements to furniture, fixtures and fittings, and improved landscaping including conservation works to the ancient trees 4. Development of a learning programme for schools, families, adult learners and Adult and Higher Education students led by the Museum of London and supported by volunteers that relates to the Charterhouse and the Tudor period, and the creation of a flexible learning space to support activity sessions 1.3 Activity Planning This Activity Plan has been developed by Jura Consultants with input from the Museum of London on the learning programme and interpretive concept. An Activity Plan is a strategic document which sets out everything that will be undertaken as part of the project to engage people with their heritage and involve people in making decisions Jura Consultants 1 Revealing The Charterhouse – DRAFT Activity Plan about their heritage. This includes learning, participation, audience development, training, volunteering and any other public activities related to the project. As the Revealing the Charterhouse project was approved during the previous HLF strategic plan, guidance that dates prior to October 2012 has been used. Therefore, the Activity Plan is cognisant of the following HLF aims: • Participation – Helping more people, and a wider range of people, to have an active part in and make decisions about their heritage. The main ways to meet this aim include: o Creating opportunities for people to volunteer in the project o Helping the community to take an active part in the project, including helping people to make decisions about heritage o Developing new and/or wider audiences for the heritage • Learning – Helping more people learn about their own and other people’s heritage. The main ways to meet this aim include: o Providing information about the heritage and interpreting it for others o Creating opportunities for people to gain new or increased skills o Holding events or activities to help the general public or particular groups of people to learn about the heritage The outline Activity Plan (November 2012) produced for the Round 1 application provided an overview of where the Charterhouse is now in terms of the organisation, audiences and activities, provided a summary of early audience research, and outlined a number of activities to be considered as part of the final Activity Plan. Research to support the outline activity plan at Round 1 included a desk-based market appraisal, on-street survey targeting potential visitors (203 responses) and consultation with education professionals (71 responses). As part of the Round 2 development, the study team have reviewed the aims and objectives