1. Introduction and Scope
In 2023, Powys County Council Cultural Services developed an Arts Strategy which informs how the council will continue to strategically support arts and culture across the county. A key finding of the strategy is that the organisations and creative freelancers that make up Powys’ vibrant cultural sector require greater support with marketing, communicating and promoting their work.
As part of implementation of the strategy, Cultural Services has secured grant funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund to expand the remit and reach of the www.storipowys.org.uk website as an online marketing platform for arts across the county. This will include development of a county-wide What’s On calendar for Powys’ creative sector and a Creatives Directory where any freelancer can advertise themselves and their skills.
As part of the roll out of the new online platforms within the sector, we are seeking to commission the services of an external agency or specialist to deliver a programme of group training days and bespoke 1-2-1 mentoring sessions (minimum 1 hour per organisation or individual), to aid organisations and individuals in maximising use of the online platforms to promote their work, activities and skills.
We envisage that training and support will include elements of defining and effectively communicating to audiences, writing compelling copy for web and social media, and developing impactful storytelling through promotional copy. We also envisage that 1-2-1 support sessions will be offered on a first come, first served basis within the agreed allocation of sessions. However, in both cases, we are keen to work with and benefit from the expertise of the appointed supplier in agreeing the content of training and final programme of activity.
2. Management
The client for the project is Powys County Council
The project will be managed by Emily Bartlett, Project Manager – Arts & Culture
3. Skills
The external specialist must need to have:
- Knowledge and understanding of the arts and cultural sector.
- Experience and expertise in and digital marketing and audience development.
- A strong track record in delivering training within the digital marketing and audience development fields, with a particular focus on the arts and cultural sector.
4. External specialists wishing to be considered should submit the following:
- A quotation for the work.
- A method statement outlining the approach to be taken, including the timescale.
- A breakdown of costs.
- An outline of the professional skills and experience the external specialist will bring.
- Examples of similar work undertaken.
- A timetable for the project.
- References (2).
Submissions should be sent to emily-francesca.bartlett@powys.gov.uk
By 8am, 2 September 2024
5. Project Timescale
The target date for commissioning the work is 3 September 2024 with an immediate start following this.
We anticipate that the appointed supplier will work with the project team to develop the programme of activity, with activity then being delivered between late September and November 2024.
The target date for full completion is 29 November 2024.
7. Project Budget
£15,000 (excluding VAT)
8. Evaluation Criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate brief submissions:
- 40% - financial value of the quotation.
- 60% - qualitative information, broken down as follows:
- 30% - assessment of expertise/similar work undertaken.
- 30% - method statement outlining approach.