Unlocking the Potential Project
Consultant Brief – Narrative Study
Arts Council Museum Resilience Funding 2015
In 2015 Museums of Cheshire successfully bid for an ACE Resilience grant to support the
group to further unlock the potential of MoC to create a more resilient and sustainable subregional organisation.
The project represents a step change for the group in terms of the amount of funding
sought and the proposed activities. At its core is the belief that the potential for excellence
can be found in museums of all types and sizes which is demonstrated by the MoC group.
The Unlocking the Potential project will focus on three key areas:
1. Strengthening the organisation through delivery of an organisational skills audit, and
production of a training and development plan.
2. Sharing our stories through this commissioned research and subsequent joint initiatives
and projects.
3. Measuring our impact through delivery of baseline research into the combined social and
economic impact of the Museums of Cheshire member organisations, and identifying ways
we can enhance these impacts through partnership working.
In order to achieve these aims the project includes a number of development activities
including:
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Appointment of a Project Manager to oversee delivery and completion of the grant
funded activity
Organisational skills audit, and production of a training and development plan
Baseline research to establish the economic and social impacts of Cheshire’s
museums
A new website for Museums of Cheshire
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A narrative study which identifies themes and stories which are significant across our
venues and can be the inspiration for new partnership working - this brief relates
solely to this part of the Unlocking the Potential project.
Delivery of a conference for members and museum professionals across the wider
region.
Narrative Study – Outline of Requirements
MoC are now looking for a consultant to carry out research and produce an advocacy tool
which will inform our future direction and joint activity. We require a consultant to review
venues and collections across our member organisations, and to produce a document which
sets out the shared stories of our members and new ideas about how we can use these
stories and our collections to engage with target audiences and develop partnership work,
for example to:
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Develop shared learning resources and public programmes
Create new marketing initiatives which promote Museums of Cheshire as a network
of linked venues
Create interesting, accessible and informative content for our forthcoming website,
to be commissioned in early 2016
Develop new projects and collaborations, potentially though creating smaller
‘thematic’ cluster groups in addition to the main MOC network
Facilitate loans and sharing of objects to enhance public access to our collections.
(Please note this is not an exhaustive list – we are open to new ideas!)
We would also like the consultant to attend and contribute to the Museums of Cheshire
Conference, which is scheduled for one day in February 2016.
We envisage the report as consisting of two sections:
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A narrative report which sets out the most dynamic, remarkable and accessible
themes, ideas and stories within our collections which resonate across Museums of
Cheshire venues and are accessible to a number of target audiences.
A set of proposals for how these narratives and themes can be used to create new
content and projects – looking at exhibitions, learning, events, marketing,
curatorial/research, training and creative projects.
Methodology
We are open to consultants suggesting a methodology for this piece of work, bearing in
mind the following:
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You will be able to work closely with the MOC project manager, who has recently
visited all of the venues and carried out an interview with a senior member of staff.
Relevant information about each venue will be made available, including a
comprehensive spreadsheet of website and contact information for each MOC
partner organisation.
We do not expect the consultant to visit each venue, and see this as primarily a desk
and phone based research exercise.
We hold well-attended regular network meetings which could provide an
opportunity for the consultant to test and develop ideas with members.
Budget and Timescales
The available budget is £3000 to include VAT and travel and subsistence expenses.
The final report must be delivered by the end of January 2016, as it will inform the content
of our conference which is scheduled for late February 2016.
Submitting a proposal
Consultants are invited to apply by submitting a proposal that demonstrates:
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Your approach and process/method to work with the steering group and MoC
members.
Range and depth of relevant experience in delivering this type of project including
working with a number of stakeholders.
Schedule indicating proposed timetable, breakdown of your time for activities and
an indication of your daily rate.
Please provide the name of 2 referees who have experience of working with you on similar
projects.
Reporting Relationships
The budget is managed by Culture Warrington. For day to day issues you will report directly
to the MOC Unlocking the Potential project manager, Kate Rodenhurst. In addition you will
liaise with, and give progress updates, to the MoC steering group consisting of: Janice Hayes
(Collections, Heritage and Archives Manager at Culture Warrington), Kath Lynch (Heritage
Manager at Port Sunlight Museum), Sue Hughes (Director of Silk Heritage Trust) and Frank
Hargrave (Director of Norton Priory Museum).
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Schedule
The project is due to begin as soon as possible with final report to be delivered by the end of
January 2016. The MoC conference will be scheduled some time in late February.
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Deadline for submissions is 21st September at 5pm
If necessary, interviews will be held on 29th September, in Port Sunlight.
Please email submissions to katerodenhurst@mac.com
Contact: For any further details please contact Kate Rodenhurst, Project Manager for
Museums of Cheshire on 0151 724 1608 / 07956 352 779 or email
katerodenhurst@mac.com
Assessment criteria for our selection
Selection criteria
Quality of application, clarity of approach/ process
Value for Money/Outcomes
Extent to which consultant(s) demonstrate understanding and
particular requirements of this brief and project
Clear and robust process/ method which works with MoC to engage
members and delivers outcomes
Excellent communication skills: both internally and externally
Range and depth of relevant experience, including working with
similar groups and working with other consultants
Tender Interview
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X
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Background:
Museums of Cheshire
Museums of Cheshire (MoC), until 2013 known as Cheshire Museums Forum, is a group
formed over 25 years ago. Members of MoC are Accredited museums (as administered by
Arts Council England) or museums that are recognised as “working towards Accreditation”.
It is a voluntary group, though until local government re-organisation in 2008 it had the
support of the County Museums Officer as its Secretary. The group was formed to support
and promote museums within Cheshire as it was defined before the local government
boundary changes of 1974, 1998 and 2009. Today this is represented by museums within
the local authority boundaries of:
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Cheshire East
Cheshire West and Chester
Halton
Warrington
Wirral
The collections of each museum are unique and offer an individual experience for its visitors
and communities. Together they tell the rich and diverse story of the people and events of
the area. The full list of current MOC venues is as follows:
Managing Organisation
Culture Warrington
Port Sunlight Village Trust
Macclesfield Silk Museums Trust
Wirral Borough Council
Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum
West Cheshire Museums
Museum of Policing in Cheshire
Congleton Museum Trust
Nantwich Museum
Norton Priory Museum Charitable Trust
Cheshire East Council
Anson Museum Trust
Cheshire Military Museum Trust
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and
Museum Trust
Venue
Warrington Museum
Port Sunlight Museum
Macclesfield Silk Museum
Paradise Mill
The Old Sunday School
West Park Museum
Williamson Art Gallery
Birkenhead Priory
Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum
Grosvenor Museum
Lion Salt Works
Stretton Watermill
Weaver Hall
Museum of Policing in Cheshire
Congleton Museum
Nantwich Museum
Norton Priory Museum and Gardens
Tatton Park
Anson Engine Museum
Cheshire Military Museum
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre
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Museums of Cheshire Purpose and Aims
The purpose of the group is to work collaboratively to enhance the aims of the constituent
museum services to increase:
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Use
Accessibility
Learning opportunities
Community engagement
Awareness and promotion
Sustainability
Income and Value for Money
Partnerships
MoC bring museums to work together on projects and initiatives that would not be possible
for individual museums on their own or where there is clear advantage in sharing resources
and collaborating for mutual benefit. Working together the group aims to:
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Promote best practice – through sharing experience, skills and expertise
Increase awareness of the role and work of museums today
Be a voice for all museums and the collective activity of the Museums of Cheshire
Improve marketing and publicity for the museums
Develop skills of staff and volunteers – through training and continuing professional
development
Establish and nurture partnerships that are more effective on a larger scale
Increase efficiency and value for money through economies of scale – through joint
purchasing and commissioning
Maximise inward investment from external funding opportunities
Museums of Cheshire Achievements
The members of the group have been working together for some time as an effective
professional network. This has been especially valuable in a time of great change for
museums across the country and with ever increasing pressures on funding for the services.
This has included funded projects related to philanthropy, fundraising and volunteer
management.
In 2012 and 2014 the group successfully applied for Museum Development North West
Sustainable Improvement Funding. These grants gave the group the opportunity to explore
the administration and management of the group, to appraise the option of formally
constituting the organisation and identifying ways to make the group more resilient. It also
supported the development of the MoC brand, from the basics of designing a logo to
promoting recognition of the group, producing greater influence in the market place, raising
profile and increasing visitors.
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Over the last few years the group has worked with Marketing Cheshire (the local tourist
board) to develop the brand and the group’s marketing and promotion. The most recent
development has focused on connecting museums, working in clusters and encouraging
visitors to be more likely to travel from one destination to another. It has worked to
improve the product knowledge of customer-facing staff and volunteers to cross-promote
and provide an outstanding level of customer service. There has also been a strand
specifically exploring the impact of the Viewpoint customer survey machines and how they
can be use more effectively to promote the MoC brand and joint intelligence.
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