City of Curiosity: Creative Director Vacancy

• Title: Creative Director
• Contract: Self Employed / Freelance
• Duration: Fixed term 18 months
• Location: Home-based (blend of remote and in-person work anticipated with possible physical base provided in Hull within Library Services)
• Reporting to: Lead of City of Curiosity Steering Group
• Closing date: 23 November 2023
• Shortlisting: w/c 27 November 2023
• Interview dates: w/c 4 December 2023
• Commencement: by agreement but not later than January 2024

Introduction

Born in 1833, Sir James Reckitt remains one of Hull’s most famous citizens. One of the driving forces behind Reckitt and Sons, an industrialist, a philanthropist and city leader, he was also powerful advocate for public libraries. He founded the first free public library in the city in 1889. Next year, 2024, is the centenary of his death.

He is famously quoted as saying: ‘The main object of a free library is not only in satisfying a thirst for knowledge, but to create a thirst where it is now absent’. In the year of his centenary, we aim to breathe new life into that sentiment by championing a mission to build a Culture of Curiosity in Hull, to make it a City of Curiosity. Planning has already begun to develop a programme of activity. This post will support the further development and delivery of a programme to celebrate James Reckitt and drive his ideas forward to begin the creation of a City of Curiosity, initially on an 18-month contract.

The Creative Director will report to the City of Curiosity steering group which consists of key James Reckitt Library Trust (JRLT) Trustees, senior business leaders and thinkers from around the city. The role is funded primarily by the JRLT and the Creative Director will be contracted through them.

Creative Director’s Brief

The main purpose of this contract is to support the Steering Group to develop and deliver the City of Curiosity programme in 2024 and support the longer-term goal to create a sustainable culture of curiosity.

We expect that the following tasks will be delivered through this role:

• Contribute to the development of the creative vision for City of Curiosity
• Make connections and engagement with relevant communities/groups across the City to foster collaboration for the programme and beyond
• Enable the Steering Group to build an activity plan to ensure it meets the needs and wants of the local community;
• Develop a commissioning brief for a packet of work(s) and events to deliver the activity plan;
• Oversee/coordinate the development and implementation of creative assets (branding, marketing, communications etc.)
• Explore volunteer opportunities within the programme;
• Evaluation, planning and data collection;
• Keep track of collective funding available and make recommendations over prioritisation of funding, in line with the strategic vision of City of Curiosity;
• Develop forward plans and future-proofing the project beyond 2024; and
• Undertake any such other duties as may be required and agreed with the Lead of the City of Curiosity Steering Group.

Fees

The fee for this commission will be calculated on an agreed per diem rate, excluding VAT and including expenses other than travel, room hire and refreshments if required for which a budget will be provided in discussion with the postholder. The expectation is that, over the 18 months, the postholder will devote an estimated 200-240 days to the duties. The maximum fees total available is £48,000.

The contractor will be required to present evidence of their Self-Employed status to undertake this work and will be responsible for all tax and National Insurance arrangements.

Stage payments will be made on the completion of an agreed programme of deliverables. For guidance it is expected that your submission will propose the stages and deliverables and an example is shown at Schedule 1 for illustrative purpose only. By its nature, this commission requires a high degree of self- motivation and creativity and any plan of activity is expected to be an iterative process in the early weeks of the commission. Please use this draft schedule to explain how many days you anticipate spending on each activity.

Management

The project will be managed by the City of Curiosity Steering Group. A member of that Group will take particular responsibility for the management of the postholder.

Contract

The Creative Director will be contracted by the James Reckitt Library Trust and this brief will form part of the contract.

Insurance requirements

The Creative Director will be required to hold Public Liability insurance to the value of £5million and Professional Indemnity to the value of £1 million.

Selection and appointment

The Creative Director will be appointed through a shortlisting and panel interview process.

Skills and experience

This project will require an experienced Creative Director who is able to collaborate with other professional disciplines. The successful Creative Director is likely to meet the criteria below:

Essential Experience:

Demonstrable experience of:

• managing creative projects, ideally those rooted in community engagement
• working with multiple stakeholders
• audience and community engagement in heritage/the arts. We have a particular interest in STEAM and intersections between sectors.
• project administration (meeting support, reporting, budget management).
• activity planning and deliver
• reporting to funders
• developing evaluation frameworks for projects and implementing relevant measures to capture data.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge and experience of projects that collaborate across sectors (private, local authority, third sector)
• Understanding of Hull’s community and various stakeholders.

Additional Requirements

• Willing to work flexibly (days/ evening/ weekends) to meet the operational needs of the post
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work using own initiative and making appropriate decisions
• Computer literate with Microsoft packages

Requirements for submission

Creative Directors who feel that they meet the criteria for this appointment should submit:

• A short proposal (no more than 2 sides of A4) setting out why you are interested in this project and how your previous experience makes you a suitable candidate
• Evidence of your previous experience in similar settings
• An up-to-date and detailed CV
• Two recent referees (relevant settings preferred)

If you would like to discuss this project or need any clarification, please contact Graham Chesters ([email protected]).

SCHEDULE 1: TIMELINE FOR DELIVERY

It is expected that the services will be delivered flexibly over the period of January 2024 to July 2025.

It is expected that the individual will mostly work from home but will attend face to face meetings as and when required.

A Draft Schedule of Work:

If you would like to discuss this project or need any clarification, please contact Graham Chesters ([email protected]).