Tender For Cultural Tourism Project Co-ordination Services

Overview:

Marketing Lancashire is the destination management organisation for Lancashire; our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the profile of Lancashire as the first choice destination to visit, live, study, work and invest in.  It is Marketing Lancashire’s ambition to make the world sit up and take notice of Lancashire, leading Lancashire to tell its story brilliantly, to create positive images and change perception of the county.  Marketing Lancashire works with a wide range of visitor economy, public and private sector partners and national and international organisations to raise the profile of Lancashire’s quality visitor offer.

Lancashire attracts over 63 million visitors who contribute £3.68 billion to the local economy and help support over 56 thousand jobs (STEAM 2014). Cultural events are a primary driver for visits to the county and we want to strengthen the relationship between our cultural ambition, image-making and the visitor economy to firmly establish Lancashire’s reputation as a cultural destination on a national and international platform, engaging new audiences through distinctive and inspiring cultural experiences.

To achieve this, we are working with leading arts consortium and partnerships across Lancashire to deliver ‘Lancashire’s Cultural Story’, a shared vision that will deliver greater cultural coherence and visibility as well as inspiring new artistic products, programmes and packages that will enable us to promote the quality of our offer and raise our cultural profile to win new audiences and visitors.

Lancashire’s cultural calendar across 2016 will enable us to showcase a series of cultural high points including the 200th year anniversary of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, Light Up Lancaster, The Festival of Making and more. Together with the rest of the cultural destination offer, they will help to secure Lancashire’s reputation as a ‘must visit’ destination through its powerful and compelling cultural programme.

As part of this work, we will also seek to define a cultural narrative for Lancashire; this will be delivered in the form of an illustrative toolkit that will highlight Lancashire’s cultural attributes and impacts, drawing out the key messages we need to amplify Lancashire’s cultural voice, enhance our storytelling and inspire new artistic activity, acting as a catalyst for further developments and investment to consolidate our cultural calendar all year round. With the development of a wider economic narrative, the ‘Lancashire Story’ currently underway, the time is ripe for Lancashire’s cultural offer to be recognised as a key player in supporting the county’s goals through the range of social and economic benefits it delivers.  

Our work is being supported through the Arts Council England National Lottery Funded Grants For the Arts programme and will be overseen by a Project Steering Group, comprising representatives from Marketing Lancashire, Arts Lancashire, Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Council.

Requirement:

This brief, from Marketing Lancashire, is seeking to procure the services of an experienced, dynamic and self –motivated, freelance individual or organisation to support project co-ordination and delivery.

Whilst Marketing Lancashire will provide the lead in managing this contract, the appointed individual or organisation will work under the wider direction of the Project Steering Group to deliver an agreed plan of work.

The role and services required to support project delivery and co-ordination are:
• Co-ordinating activities relating to project planning, implementation and administration, including programme scheduling, contracting / commissioning of artists, marketing activity, and development of a cultural tourism toolkit.

• Providing a main point of contact and co-ordinating regular communications amongst project partners and key stakeholders.  
• Ensuring that project activity is managed to time and budget.
• Ensuring that project activity delivers output targets set out within the agreed funding contract.
• Working with arts partners to support and enhance leading cultural events across 2016, including Light Up Lancaster, the Festival of Making and more.
• Managing artistic commissions.
• Identifying a calendar of cultural events across Lancashire during 2016.
• Managing the development of a cultural tourism narrative and toolkit.
• Promoting take up and implementation of the cultural tourism toolkit, including a series of workshops and events. 
• Co-ordinating marketing and promotional activity, working closely with Marketing Lancashire and key partners.
• Assisting with performance management, producing regular project reports and leading project evaluation, working in partnership with local universities.

The project will be delivered between Jan 2016 and March 2017 with activity reaching across the whole of Lancashire. It is envisaged that the role will be undertaken on a part time basis across the project timeframe and flexibility in working hours / days will be required. The appointed individual or organisation will also be required to travel and work across the county to meet project needs

Skills and Experience:

The appointed individual or organisation will have:

• Strong project management skills and a track record of meeting targets on time and within budget
• Strategic understanding of the arts and cultural sector and / or visitor economy landscape across Lancashire
• Knowledge of arts funding structures and programmes
• Experience of commissioning and managing artists
• Strong communications skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills at all levels

Responses Required and Terms of Contract:

Applicants are asked to submit their CV, along with a covering letter which outlines how they meet the experience and requirements set out within this brief. The tender submitted will also need to include all expenses including hourly rates, travel mileage, etc.  A maximum fee of £13,000 is available for this work and it is anticipated that services will be delivered flexibly, on a part time basis, throughout the project timeframe outlined above.

Testimonials and references from previous clients will be required.

Tenders will be assessed on experience, knowledge and track record, value for money as well as considering the proposed delivery schedule, number of days and willingness to work flexible hours. Professional indemnity insurance must also be in place. 

Services will be subject to written contract with staged payments.

Submission of Tenders:

Deadline for submission of applications is close of business on Friday 5th February 2016. Submissions made in writing should clearly state ‘Lancashire Cultural Tourism Project’ and be sent to:

Justina Ma, Marketing Lancashire, Farington House, Lancashire Enterprise Business Park, Centurion Way, Leyland, PR26 6TW or via email [email protected]

The proposed immediate timeline for the selection and appointment of the individual or organisation to deliver the contract is as follows:

• Submissions to be received by close of business on 5th February 2016
• Shortlisting w/c 8th February 2016
• Invited for Interview 23rd February 2016
• Inception / Steering Group Meeting 1st March 2016

Submissions will be assessed by a panel comprising of Steering Group Representatives:

• Justina Ma, Business Manager, Marketing Lancashire
• Rebecca Johnson, Arts Service Manager, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Heather Fox, Arts Development Manager, Lancashire County Council