Seeking Facilitator for Art and Nature Workshops - Sutton STEAMS Ahead
Request for Proposals: Facilitator for Art and Nature Workshops - Sutton's Hidden Worlds, Sutton STEAMs Ahead
What:
an individual or group to run two workshops: one for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); and one for newly arrived groups
Where:
Wallington Library, London Borough of Sutton
When:
Between 1 November 2023 to 31 January 2024
Who:
An individual or group experienced in leading art workshops
Fees & Benefits:
Max. available funding £875 excl. VAT
How:
Application submission for this opportunity will be via email
Deadline:
10am on 16 October 2023
As part of Sutton STEAMs Ahead 2023, the London Borough of Sutton has developed an exciting new opportunity for a workshop leader experienced in leading artistic or creative workshops to run two workshops between 1 November 2023 and 31 January 2024. Sutton’s Hidden Worlds uncovers the hidden worlds of Sutton’s environment, encouraging people to connect with nature through creative workshops. These workshops aim to improve feelings of connection to place; enhance wellbeing; and develop understanding of nature for the workshop participants. Hidden Worlds will show how nature surrounds us, and can be enjoyed in unexpected places and times – in the depths of winter, or inside a library.
We are looking for facilitators to work with participants to create an artistic response to the experience of being in nature, including the sensory or emotional experiences of nature. We are particularly interested in applications that consider the idea of ‘mapping’ nature. This could involve participants creating their own maps of the library garden, or of the wider Wallington area. The workshop could involve a guided walk outside, to encourage the experience of and connection to nature. We can provide Green Infrastructure maps created by Natural England of the Wallington area, to support and inspire this activity. Community engagement is central to these workshops, and workshops will be targeted towards two groups: young people with SEND; and newly arrived groups. We would ask you to consider in your application how you might tailor the workshops for these groups.
We will also ask the appointed facilitator to create a resource pack based on the activities in these workshops. This should include instructions on how other people might create similar artworks in their own time, such as prompts for their creations, suggestions for materials, and potentially templates. This will be shared digitally and in our libraries. While we would like to see your ideas for the resource pack in your application, we would encourage you to consider how this could be co-produced with the workshop participants during the workshops.
We are looking for facilitators to work with participants to create an artistic response to the experience of being in nature, including the sensory or emotional experiences of nature. We are particularly interested in applications that consider the idea of ‘mapping’ nature. This could involve participants creating their own maps of the library garden, or of the wider Wallington area. The workshop could involve a guided walk outside, to encourage the experience of and connection to nature. We can provide Green Infrastructure maps created by Natural England of the Wallington area, to support and inspire this activity. Community engagement is central to these workshops, and workshops will be targeted towards two groups: young people with SEND; and newly arrived groups. We would ask you to consider in your application how you might tailor the workshops for these groups.
We will also ask the appointed facilitator to create a resource pack based on the activities in these workshops. This should include instructions on how other people might create similar artworks in their own time, such as prompts for their creations, suggestions for materials, and potentially templates. This will be shared digitally and in our libraries. While we would like to see your ideas for the resource pack in your application, we would encourage you to consider how this could be co-produced with the workshop participants during the workshops.
Background
Sutton’s Hidden Worlds has been made possible by Culture Nature, an exciting new project designed to support people to connect with nature through their local libraries. Culture Nature is funded by Natural England and Libraries Connected, and is being delivered this year by libraries in six different regions across England.
These workshops are part of the wider Sutton STEAMs Ahead project which has been made possible through a Mayor of London Cultural Impact Award. Cultural Impact Awards are part of the Mayor of London’s wider London Borough of Culture programme. Sutton STEAMs Ahead uniquely blends arts and science and was initially inspired by the ground breaking work taking place in Sutton at The London Cancer Hub (LCH).
These workshops are part of the wider Sutton STEAMs Ahead project which has been made possible through a Mayor of London Cultural Impact Award. Cultural Impact Awards are part of the Mayor of London’s wider London Borough of Culture programme. Sutton STEAMs Ahead uniquely blends arts and science and was initially inspired by the ground breaking work taking place in Sutton at The London Cancer Hub (LCH).
What to submit
You should submit a quote, a proposal and a CV. Your quote should provide detailed information regarding preparation time, workshop delivery, materials needed for the workshops and the resource pack.
Proposals outlining your workshop ideas should be submitted in one document, max. 800 words. This document can also include images, hyperlinks to web pages, YouTube videos or other helpful references. Alternatively, a link to a max. 8 min video or audio recording can be submitted. Please also send us your CV summarising relevant experience (max. 3 pages), as a PDF.
We are looking for proposals that consider the following:
Proposals outlining your workshop ideas should be submitted in one document, max. 800 words. This document can also include images, hyperlinks to web pages, YouTube videos or other helpful references. Alternatively, a link to a max. 8 min video or audio recording can be submitted. Please also send us your CV summarising relevant experience (max. 3 pages), as a PDF.
We are looking for proposals that consider the following:
- Your key ideas for these workshops, including where they would take place (in or around Wallington Library) and your ideas for a resource pack (this can be further developed through the workshops themselves – a co-production element with participants is encouraged)
- How the event can be inclusive, and suitable for the two target audiences: young people with SEND; and newly arrived groups
- Outline how your workshops might: improve feelings of connection to place; enhance wellbeing; and develop understanding of nature for the workshop participants.
Please send your application via email to suttonsteamsahead@sutton.gov.uk before 10am on 16 October 2023. Please send any questions ahead of the deadline to the same address.
Summary of Expectations & Outputs
Workshop Leaders
- Supply workshop information such as: dates, insurance, risk assessment etc by 31 October
- Provide adequate public liability insurance for the event
- Ensure the event is as inclusive and accessible as possible
- Collect feedback forms from participants and provide attendee numbers as part of the overall project evaluation
- Fill out feedback form for the project evaluation
London Borough of Sutton (LBS)
- Provide a fee of max. £875 excl VAT, to cover workshop delivery, preparation, materials and resource pack
- Support in promoting the event to relevant community groups
- Contribute towards some access support costs if required
- Advise on the venue of Wallington Library as needed
- Support with volunteers helping with the workshops, where required and as capacity allows