Creative Engagement and Learning Coordinator

£23,500, full time

We are looking for someone to join our team to develop and deepen our work with partners and communities through storytelling and wider creative opportunities. Working closely with the Head of Inclusion and Learning and the Exhibitions and Workshops Manager, the role will focus on training and facilitation, working with community groups, and supporting the engagement of Crisis clients, artists and the wider community in our creative work.

Please go to: www.oldfirestation.org.uk/vacancies for more details on how to apply.

Applications by 9am, Wednesday 16 February

Interviews will be held the week commencing Monday 21 February.

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who face disadvantage through lived experience or discrimination (heritage, disability, homelessness or class for example)

JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION

Creative Engagement & Learning Co-ordinator

(37 hours a week)

The Old Fire Station encourages people from all backgrounds to understand and shape the world in which we live through stories, creativity and the arts, and by connecting with others.

At OFS, we

produce and present across art forms

help people to be creative

support artists

include people facing tough times because of disadvantage

work with communities across Oxford

In everything we do, we consider

facing the climate emergency

unlearning discrimination

being human friendly

experimenting and listening

building financial resilience

We do this by

good quality relationships

listening and learning

encouraging creativity and risk-taking

offering a public space which is welcoming to all

working collaboratively online, outside and elsewhere

Essential to delivering our shared mission is the participation of Crisis members (homeless people using Crisis’ services) in our work.

Organisational Relationship and Accountability

Line managed by: Head of Inclusion and Learning

Works closely with: Exhibition and Workshop Manager

Salary: 23,500 p.a

Budget Responsibility: None

Creative Engagement and Learning Co-ordinator

Over the past few years, the Old Fire Station’s work with communities has developed in a number of ways.

Since 2017 we have been using storytelling to evaluate the impact of our work. This involves collecting stories from people about their experience of a project, and then analysing these stories in a participatory way to help us evaluate and learn about impact.

Recently we have adapted the approach to work with partners to learn from and amplify stories, and since 2019 we have supported and trained over 25 organisations in using this approach. This has led us to work with new partners, embark on exciting creative projects, and develop our work with communities across Oxford. We’ve also been involved in conversations about ‘meaningful measurement’ - how to shift evaluation from being an ‘add-on’ at the end of a project driven by Key Performance Indicators (which were decided before the work even began), towards a meaningful learning process which enables the people involved to determine what impact looks like for them. In 2022, we will work closely with local partners to learn about more meaningful evaluation tools, test approaches in specific areas of the city, and use our findings to influence the system locally.

We have also been exploring new ways to work creatively with individuals and groups across Oxford. We’ve opened a new project space in the building on Gloucester Green, worked in partnership with local artists to provide creative workshops, and have brought together artists, Crisis clients and other members of the community to work collaboratively on high quality creative projects, including an ambitious promenade theatre production called Atlantis. Through this work we’ve developed our relationships with individuals and groups across the city, and have begun to work with people in new and creative ways.

Moving forward, we want to continue to develop and deepen our work with partners and communities through storytelling and wider creative opportunities. The Creative Engagement and Learning Coordinator will play an important role in helping us to deliver these exciting areas of work and will help to explore and develop the ways in which they interlink. Working closely with the Head of Inclusion and Learning and Exhibitions and Workshops Manager, the role will focus on training and facilitation, working with community groups, and supporting the engagement of Crisis clients, artists and the wider community in our creative work.

Main duties and responsibilities

Key purpose

Working closely with Head of Inclusion and Learning and Exhibitions and Workshops Manager to help develop and facilitate our work around storytelling, workshops, and wider creative collaborations with artists, Crisis members and communities.

Storytelling Evaluation & Learning

Facilitate storytelling training and workshops.

Co-ordinate and deliver new storytelling projects and initiatives.

Work alongside the Head of Inclusion and Learning to deliver and help co-ordinate our work on more meaningful approaches to measurement with partners across the city.

Work with artists and wider members of the community to creatively share and amplify stories.

Creative Workshops

Work closely with artists, Exhibitions and Workshops Manager and Bookings and Admin team to co-ordinate creative workshops and events.

Support the wider administration of workshops and exhibitions, including contracts, invoices and risk assessments.

Ensure good communication with all teams involved in supporting work in public spaces.

Wider engagement with communities

Build relationships and explore opportunities to work creatively with different groups and communities.

Further develop our creative work with Crisis clients, artists and the wider community, and explore opportunities for people to shape who we are and be involved in the co-creation of work.

Help to embed inclusion and creativity across all areas of our work.

What we are looking for
Essential – If you have most or all of these, please apply.

Facilitation skills and experience delivering training

Project management experience

An interest in creative evaluation processes

Knowledge of or interest in visual art and wider creative forms

Experience of working on community arts or community development projects

Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

The ability to work under pressure, multi-task, use initiative and work to strict deadlines

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to make others feel at ease and work well with vulnerable people facing tough times as well as professional artists

A desire to provide the best level of service to everybody

An eye for detail

Emotional intelligence

A willingness to undertake appropriate training

Energy and enthusiasm to develop a role in a small, evolving team

Experience of working with vulnerable adults.

Desirable – if you don’t have all (or any) of these, don’t worry.

Experience working in a small team.

Experience with qualitative monitoring and evaluation processes.

Relationships and connections with communities and groups in Oxford.

Experience working with partners across the public, social and art sectors.

Commitment towards social change and the mission of the organisation.

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who face disadvantage through lived experience (ie no formal education/experience of homelessness) and/or who identify as:

• D/deaf and/or disabled
• Neurodiverse
• Working-class, benefit class, underclass
• LGBTQ+
• Global majority* and/or migrant
*This includes people of Black Caribbean, Black African, South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Arab, Latinx, Jewish, Romany and Irish Traveller heritage.

We will interview people who hold one or more of these characteristics if they meet the essential criteria. Please state in the letter if you would like to be considered for interview under these conditions (you do not need to explain why).

We are keen to learn more about the barriers to inclusion and it would be really helpful if you could fill in the demographics monitoring form (also known as an Equal Opportunities form) on the website. This is anonymous and is for us to assess how well we are doing in terms of attracting applications from people who experience discrimination (i.e. because of their race, disability or class among others).

General

As an equal opportunity employer, we recognise the diversity shortcomings of our industry and are committed to driving change and supporting employees to provide an inclusive workplace.

We expect staff to have a commitment to unlearning discrimination in order to become a more inclusive organisation

We recognise the major impact that climate change is having on our world. We work as an organisation and with partners in the city towards a low-carbon sustainable Oxford. All staff are expected to share this responsibility and support this work.

All staff are expected to be able to support and supervise volunteers and trainees on placements, including Crisis members as part of our Training Scheme

The Old Fire Station requires an open, creative and flexible approach to the work. This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not fully comprehensive or restrictive. This job description will be reviewed with the post holder annually.

The post holder will be expected to carry out the duties of this post in line with the Old Fire Station’s policies and procedures and in line with all relevant insurance, legal, health and safety obligations.

The post holder will have input into artistic and business planning and strategies, as part of an inclusive practice,

We are a small team, and all staff are expected to support work across the organisation in a practical way, not just in their own area.

Conditions of service

Available to work some weekends and evenings with some off-site work as required

The post is subject to a three-month probationary period

Additional work-related travel expenses (not including travel to and from the office) will be payable in line with the relevant conditions and rates agreed

Application Deadline: Wednesday 16 February

Interviews: Week beginning Monday 21 February

Please e-mail recruitment@oldfirestation.org.uk with a covering letter and a CV and the demographic monitoring form (also known as equal opportunities form)