brief for artist in residence
TRANSCRIPT
Socially-Engaged Artist in Residence
Brief for Artists
Photo Credit - Michelle Heseltine Photography
As part of the City of Bradford’s Heritage Action Plan January 2022 – July 2022
Commissioned by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Overview
The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (CBMDC) is looking to appoint a socially
engaged artist to animate the discussions around the future of City Hall.
We are looking for an artist who is inspired by socially engaged practice, working with
people to ignite new conversations, ways of thinking and presenting what public and civic
space can be. We want somebody who can bring new perspectives, push the boundaries
and drive positive disruption. We’re looking for extraordinary artist/artists who are keen to
challenge what an artist in residence can be. This is an opportunity to do something that’s
going to showcase what we as a city can be and how an artist can help interpret that.
We want to know what the people of Bradford think about the building – particularly but
not exclusively, the public spaces within it. What do they want from this iconic building?
What aspirations do they have for it? What stories does it tell for them? How can it reflect
their own lives and stories? Could it be put to more – and more relevant - public use?
Therefore, with funding for a Heritage Action Plan from the National Lottery Heritage Fund,
we want to appoint a socially engaged artist to animate the conversations we will be having
with the public about this. The artist will work with the Heritage Action Plan consultant,
Council staff, the heritage sector and the people of Bradford to find engaging and exciting
ideas and views for the best use of this important heritage space. There will also be work
with the evaluator of the overall NLHF project, of which this residency is a part.
Scope of works may include but is not exhaustive:
Community engagement
Partnership working with the Council, heritage consultants, heritage sector and
other partners as identified
Project development
Project delivery
Assistance with evaluation and report writing
Outputs/deliverables
The following outputs will be required:
Community engagement
Development of a project or projects to engage the people of Bradford District in
discussion, debate, ideation and personal investment in City Hall (this could be
workshops, dinners, screenings, talks, walks, social events).
Delivery of that/those projects
Contribution to the evaluation of the project
Many things are converging in the district in relation to culture and heritage.
Bradford District’s new Cultural Strategy for 2021-2031, Culture Is Our Plan, throughout
which heritage is woven, was co-created with over 3,000 people, artists and cultural
organisations of Bradford. Culture Is Our Plan reflects the high value placed by people in the
district on heritage. It will help Bradford know itself better: we will understand our histories
and our many cultural heritages. Our culture will speak honestly and openly and we'll have
difficult conversations when needed, giving confidence to our communities, boosting pride
and promoting our mental and physical wellbeing. Of course the Council is also supporting
the 2025 UK City of Culture bid.
Bradford is rich in heritage, some of it is physical, tangible. We have fantastic built heritage
across the district: amazing public buildings, historic mills; we have innovative museums
with amazing collections; stunning, famous landscapes such as Ilkley Moor and the
moorland in Haworth that so inspired the Bronte sisters, as well as our canals and rivers.
We have unique, community and intangible heritage. Our communities are full of stories,
some of which are lived privately, many of which are told publicly. We are a city of
campaigns and campaigners and a place of migration and refuge. Heritage can be found
right across our district.
We have a living, diverse cultural sector that tells our stories: libraries, literature festivals,
performing arts companies and venues, galleries, artists, writers, musicians, street artists,
community festivals, all kinds of story tellers. Creativity thrives in every corner of our
district and the people of Bradford. The wider district as well as the city are our greatest
creative asset.
All of these things intersect. There is no one “Bradford Story” – there are many stories.
However, at this pivotal time we know we need to do more to stimulate heritage-based
activity in the district, to allow heritage to deliver to Culture Is Our Plan and the 2025 bid.
We must build capacity and confidence within the heritage sector, ensure our work and
funding is reflective of our population and engage the community.
We must also develop a coherent plan for culture and heritage, so we are working on a
Heritage Action Plan and a consultant for that will be appointed shortly.
We need to build skills and capacity for people to tell their own stories, explore their places
within Bradford’s wider history and heritage. We need to find ways to allow artists to
illuminate our heritage in ways that are contemporarily relevant and help us all understand.
We want to promote the relevance and value of culture, heritage and creativity in people’s
lives and encourage people to get involved heritage. We want to support activity across all
areas of the district and engage people currently underrepresented in the district’s heritage
sector.
Contract management
We expect the work to begin in January 2022 and be completed by mid-2022.
The contract will be led by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
The Council, at its discretion, may not award a contract and will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in replying to this tender.
The Council will apply the HMRC IR35 (intermediaries) test to determine if:
A) The successful Bidder would be providing services to the Council through an
intermediary company, and
B) Whether appropriate deductions for income tax and national insurance
contributions should be made from any payment by the Council.
The HMRC IR35 test can be found at https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-
status-for-tax/setup
The project will be managed on a day to day basis for City of Bradford Metropolitan District
Council by Nicola Greenan, Principal Officer for Cultural Partnerships.
Office space will be provided in a cultural hub building with the 2025 bid team, providing
cross-sector liaison and ideas generation, and the work will be outreach focused.
Award criteria
A proposal for undertaking the work should include your Knowledge and Skills related to the points below. Please also send us your up to date CV.
Knowledge and Skills
1. Experience in the development and delivery of socially engaged arts projects, especially
in underserved communities and preferably, but not essentially, in a heritage or civic
context.
2. An understanding of and experience in community outreach and experience in
community project development, especially in underserved communities. Excellent
communication skills appropriate to this.
3. An understanding of the various forms of heritage, including physical, community and
intangible heritage.
4. Ability to innovate new ways of engaging and fostering amazing moments.
5. Stakeholder engagement and management skills.
6. Knowledge of Bradford or your approach to finding out beyond using Google.
How you will conduct the contract
We envisage that the artists will work for up to 40 days, over a period of some months. The
exact work pattern will be determined by the artist and agreed with the Council as the
project gets underway. A proposal for undertaking the work should also include:
1. Your proposed working methodology in broad terms.
2. How you will organise your work and propose working with your colleague/s.
3. An outline of the internal responsibilities and liaisons if you are applying as more than an
individual.
4. Your daily charging rate taking into consideration the suggest timeframe and the budget
below.
5. The work must reflect the Council’s relevant policies, including but not limited to
Inclusion and Diversity, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety and
Safeguarding.
6. The successful bidder will be required to report regularly to the Culture, Policy and
Events team at intervals to be agreed, and may be required to work closely with other
Council teams, contractors and staff.
Applications must be submitted online via Curator Space. Further details are on the below
link:
https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/sociallyengaged-artist-in-
residence/5968
Fees and payment
This is a fixed fee contract; the price schedule will remain firm for the duration of the
Contract.
Please specify your proposed payment schedule, including fees and costs, VAT and how the
payment schedule relates to your proposed work timetable, in your proposal.
Interested bidders should note that a maximum budget of £10,000 is available for the
artists’ fee.
There is a further £5,000 available for project development and expenses.
If the contract is required to be extended for a further period of time, or additional work is
commissioned (not included in the original specification) any increase to the fixed cost shall
be agreed prior to charging and will only be accepted following the Council’s agreement in
writing.
If the appointed artist lives outside the Bradford District, help will be provided in sourcing
affordable accommodation if required.
Selection process
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will let this contract by obtaining at least three
competitive tenders/quotes and it will be let on a best value and quality basis, in which
relevant experience is a major factor.
Proposals submitted will be assessed by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
against the following questions:
1. To what extent does the proposal demonstrate that the potential artists has the
relevant skills and experience and demonstrates an understanding of the
requirements of this brief?
2. To what extent are the methodology and methods appropriate to the requirements
set out in this brief?
3. Is the proposal, exciting, innovate and engaging?
Application process
Applications must be submitted online via Curator Space. Further details are on the below
link:
https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/sociallyengaged-artist-in-
residence/5968
The procurement timetable will be:
Proposal return deadline: Written submissions online via Curator Space should be
submitted by 5.00pm on Friday 17th December 2021.
Clarification discussions if required: Monday 8th December 2021 by email with Phill
Hargreaves - [email protected]
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will notify bidders of our decision week
commencing: 3rd January 2022 via email.
If you would like to submit a proposal via an alternative method, or have particular
communication requirements, please let us know by contacting Phill Hargreaves -