The Right Stuff Evaluation Consultant at Bridport Museum

The Right Stuff: Community Engaged Collections Review

Evaluation Consultant Brief

Are you ready to help deliver an exciting new heritage project which places people and community at its heart? Bridport Museum has received funding from the Museums Association Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund for a 3.5 year project called ‘The Right Stuff.’ The project is a collections review with a difference. The Trust aims to work closely with community partners, to explore what a museum collection means to them. Together, we will be bold – asking ourselves what we should keep, why and where.

Background

Bridport Museum inspires and engages people, helping them understand the significance of Bridport’s past, appreciate the present, and imagine the future. We actively and creatively share our knowledge and passion and create exciting experiences that encourage everyone to engage with heritage. We seek to challenge pre-conceptions about what a museum is and does.

In 2017 we opened our refurbished £1.3M HLF supported museum, receiving critical acclaim for the quality of project management and interpretation. We have successfully attracted new audiences through a creative approach to museum design and arts-based learning programme.

Around 5% of the collection is on permanent display. The remainder continues to be a challenge to manage and, in some cases, justify. We need to ask ourselves and the community we serve some tricky questions:

• What shall we do with the rest?
• Why do we have certain objects?
• Should we have them?
• Who cares?

Purpose of the Role
We are seeking an experienced Evaluation Consultant to ensure that evaluation is embedded within all activities and to assist the development of a robust and comprehensive end of project Evaluation Report. We are seeking an individual who can contribute effectively to a small team which will includes other consultants, Museum staff, Trustees and volunteers, to deliver an outstanding project which is a model for sector excellence.

Principal tasks
The Evaluation Consultant will be required to:

• Review the draft Evaluation Plan and agree a set of detailed evaluation tools and methodologies for the project
• Assist in identifying benchmark data for evaluation purposes
• Advise and assist in the implementation of tested methodologies for calculating the social and eco-nomic impact of the project
• Provide a focussed evaluation implementation session with the project team and an annual review in September 2021 and September 2022
• Provide a focussed session with the Engagement Coordinator to enable them to implement evaluation on all activities
• Deliver specialist qualitative research as appropriate, e.g. one to one interviews, focus groups with volunteers and key users
• Run at least one reflective workshop for principle trustees, staff, project team and volunteers during the final months of the project to capture organisational learning from the project
• Keep a watching brief on collection of evaluation data and other evidence, providing advice and sup-port as appropriate
• Offer support and guidance to the Museum Director and Project Manager [who are responsible for authoring the final evaluation report] in the preparation of the written final evaluation report.

Timetable
The project runs until March 2023. The work will start with an inception meeting in May/June 2021 and will conclude with the delivery of the written evaluation report in March 2023. (include outline schedule with application information).

Appointments and working patterns may be adjusted to accommodate any changes or delays to the current roadmap out of lockdown.

Location
The Consultant will be required to work from their own premises, but on-site meetings in Bridport will be required.

Remuneration for the contract
The total budget for the contract is £4,000 inclusive of all professional fees, expenses and VAT if applicable. Payment will be made against agreed outputs and paid in instalments to be agreed upon appointment.

The Consultant will be responsible for their own National Insurance and Tax.

Insurance
The Consultant will be required to have professional indemnity insurance up to the value of £250,000.

Health & Safety
The Consultant will be responsible for managing their own health & safety and those they work with, complying with all relevant legislation.

When the Consultant is working at Bridport Museum’s sites, the specific health and safety regulations of those organisations should be adhered to. An induction briefing will be provided.

Appointment process
Please send a two page letter highlighting why you are interested in this role, how your experience equips you undertake the contract and how your attributes and experience meet the role requirements. Please also include an indicative resourcing schedule detailing daily rates and a copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages). Please indicate how soon you would be able to start work on the contract.

Applications must be submitted by email to Emily Hicks, [email protected] by 12noon on Friday 26 March 2021. Interviews, if required, are likely to be held week commencing 12 April 2021.

For an informal discussion or additional information please contact the Director, Emily Hicks, on 01308 458703 or [email protected]

Summary of proposed project activities
Activities may take place in any or all of the following locations:
1. The Museum – these take place in the Museum, Coach House or Grove
2. Beyond the Museum – these take place either at a local venue or within the community
3. Online – this includes our Museum website, and social media channels

The Museum 
• Behind the Scenes
• The Right Stuff: temporary exhibition
• Why is it special
• Museum Selfie
• The Museum Inspector
• 80s Season
• Handling and Training Activities
• Community Curated exhibition
• Contemporary Collecting

Beyond the Museum 
• Heritage Trails
• Guided Walks
• Bridport Museum in a Box
• Airing our Dirty Laundry
• Love my Object
• Museum Debate
• Objects without Labels
• Fight for your Right
• My Mini Museum
• Democracy/Rights Respecting
• Mini Conference

Online
• Bake Bridport
• Covid Collecting Bridport
• Melplash Memories
• Mystery Object
• Chuck or Cherish
• Community Curated exhibitions online
• Our stories in depth
• Online interactives
• Flying the Flag
• Every picture tells a story
• Museum Selfie

The Activity Plan is an agile document which is constantly monitored and reviewed, therefore the activities above may change and additional activities may be introduced as the project progresses.