Lesson Element
Unit 2: Proposal for a commissioning brief
LO3: Know how to write a final proposal for a
project
Contextualising proposals
Instructions and answers for tutors
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 5. This
Lesson Element supports Cambridge Technicals Level 3 in Performing Arts.
When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the tutor instructions section.
The activity
This lesson element is designed to introduce the demands of formal proposal writing. It
involves making initial statements that could be used in a range of potential proposals. The
proposal for this externally examined unit that learners will eventually write will need to
respond to briefs that they will have limited advanced access to. It is essential therefore that
the key elements of the tasks are explored and understood in advance.
Being able to edit and refine statements will be useful as well as having a clear company
ethic and profile on which to build the marketing aspects of the proposed project. These are
exercises in creative writing to a certain extent but there is a need for summaries and short
punchy statements and these can be found in most grant applications and company policy
documents.
With the activities that have gone previously this element should be seen as the pulling
together of skills and vision into coherent and pithy expressions of intent. The overall lesson
element is covered by a brief scenario which can be changed or adapted to meet local
needs.
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Suggested timings
Activity 1: 1 hour
Activity 2: 1 hour
Activity 3: 30 minutes
Activity 1
Using the scenario, ask learners to write a company mission statement of no more than 100
words. Most companies will have examples of these on their websites and publicity.
The statement should include references to:




the name of the company
chosen art form (or range of art forms if this is the profile)
aim of the company
a positive approach to what can be achieved.
You could provide an example or choose to rough the elements out with the learners.
An example of a mission statement is given below.
(Think of a name!) is a new theatre company focusing primarily on performing new and
devised work. The company will create innovative and ground-breaking projects that will fuse
text, physical theatre, dance and other multi-media in an attempt to push theatrical
boundaries. As part of this mission we will forge strong links with local communities and work
closely with schools and colleges through dynamic participatory workshops and classes,
inspiring the young performers of tomorrow and developing essential transferable skills such
as positive communication, co-operation and empathy towards others.
Activity 2
As part of the documents for the proposal you should ask learners to include profiles and
statements for each company member. These, as indicated, will be based on the art form
and skills that the learner has but will need to be embellished for the purposes of meeting
the proposal demands and getting the work.
They should be given some guidance on the extent of this embellishment to make profiles
credible and realistic. They could give details of a project they have already carried out in
schools or they could make one up – the emphasis remains on credibility and realism. Any
other performance experience that they have had and that is relevant to the scenario could
be used.
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They should include space for a photo in their rough outline of profiles. Examples are
available from existing programmes for shows but these are often too general and some bias
towards the demands of the scenario should be made.
Xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx has been dancing since she was five and has always been passionate about being a
professional dancer and passing on her skills to others. She has wide experience with
community dance companies including performances at local theatres and other venues –
she recently appeared in xxx. She runs workshops and classes at her local dance school
and assists in warm-ups and practical work as part of her current training at Xxxx College.
Last year she visited the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which inspired her to become more
involved in making new performances and working with musicians and actors in multi-skilled
work. She is keen to work with children and they respond in positive ways to her attitude and
approach.
Activity 3
You should ask learners to produce a series of photographs of their workshop skills. These
can be spontaneous or staged; the point of it is to add additional value to the mission
statement and personal profiles that learners have already worked on as part of their
development of proposal elements.
As an example, learners might already lead warm-ups as part of their physical theatre or
dance sessions, or they might be leading a small ensemble or band in learning a short
section of a song; these moments of tutorage should be photographed to show optimum
engagement and focus of participants. They should be recorded in a way that makes them
clear and fit-for-purpose but there is no reason why this should not be done on mobile
phones or tablets.
As indicated in previous activities this is an editing process and learners should take perhaps
15 photos and decide what photos of company members should be used in publicity and
proposals.
Examples of a very wide range of workshop photographs can be found on the company
directory pages of the Independent Theatre Council http://www.itc-arts.org.
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Lesson Element
Unit 2: Proposal for a commissioning brief
LO3: Know how to write a final proposal for a
project
Learner Activity
Contextualising proposals
In this lesson element you will be asked to carry out short research tasks that will give you
some ‘ball-park’ figures relating to a possible project. It will give you the confidence to seek
the best deals and to be realistic about what’s possible – although this is not intended to be
a cost-saving exercise, it is simply to get some figures, it may be that you have ambitious
plans for a project and that would be acceptable – as long as you know the logistics and
costs involved.
Activity 1
Referring to the scenario that you have been given, write a mission statement of no more
than 100 words. As part of this you will have to think of a company name that reflects the
kind of approach that you will want to be known for and the work that you do.
A mission statement is general and doesn’t usually change, so it will need to cover future
proposals that you make. It should include:





the name of the company
chosen art form (or range of art forms if this is the profile)
aim of the company
a positive approach to what can be achieved
artistic aims and what the company will add.
Start by noting a wide range of statements and claims for your work and approach and then
begin to edit these into something more succinct.
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Activity 2
Write a personal profile that will respond to the given scenario. In your small group/company
you have already written a mission statement and these profiles should be seen as part of
the same document.
While the mission statement was a general one that could cover a range of proposals and
applications the profiles you write should mix both general and specific statements about
your skills and approaches to work.
An example is the kind of ‘blurb’ you will find in programmes bought at theatre and venues,
but you will also need to think more carefully about how the profile sells you to the
performance company needing your services and also on the mix of profiles that your
group/company collectively conveys.
Activity 3
You should begin to acquire the habit of taking photographs of your work within groups;
specifically taking turns to capture moments when one of you is leading or taking control of a
warm-up, rehearsal activity or presentation. Once you have a library of these photos you
should spend some time with your group/company to choose one or two that will accompany
your mission statement and personal profile.
Choosing the right photo is the point of the exercise so you should decide exactly what it is
you want to project as a company and as individuals within it.
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