The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (CBMDC) is looking to appoint a socially engaged artist to animate the discussions around the future of City Hall.

We are looking for an artist who is inspired by socially engaged practice, working with people to ignite new conversations, ways of thinking and presenting what public and civic space can be. We want somebody who can bring new perspectives, push the boundaries and drive positive disruption. We’re looking for extraordinary artist/artists who are keen to challenge what an artist in residence can be. This is an opportunity to do something that’s going to showcase what we as a city can be and how an artist can help interpret that. 

We want to know what the people of Bradford think about the building – particularly but not exclusively, the public spaces within it. What do they want from this iconic building? What aspirations do they have for it? What stories does it tell for them? How can it reflect their own lives and stories? Could it be put to more – and more relevant - public use?

With funding for a Heritage Action Plan from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we want to appoint a socially engaged artist to animate the conversations we will be having with the public about this.  The artist will work with the Heritage Action Plan consultant, Council staff, the heritage sector and the people of Bradford to find engaging and exciting ideas and views for the best use of this important heritage space.  There will also be work with the evaluator of the overall NLHF project, of which this residency is a part.

Scope of works may include but is not exhaustive:

• Community engagement
• Partnership working with the Council, heritage consultants, heritage sector and other partners as identified
• Project development
• Project delivery
• Assistance with evaluation and report writing

Outputs/deliverables 

The following outputs will be required: 

• Community engagement
• Development of a project or projects to engage the people of Bradford District in discussion, debate, ideation and personal investment in City Hall (this could be workshops, dinners, screenings, talks, walks, social events).
• Delivery of that/those projects
• Contribution to the evaluation of the project

Many things are converging in the district in relation to culture and heritage.

Bradford District’s new Cultural Strategy for 2021-2031, Culture Is Our Plan, throughout which heritage is woven, was co-created with over 3,000 people, artists and cultural organisations of Bradford. Culture Is Our Plan reflects the high value placed by people in the district on heritage.  It will help Bradford know itself better: we will understand our histories and our many cultural heritages. Our culture will speak honestly and openly and we'll have difficult conversations when needed, giving confidence to our communities, boosting pride and promoting our mental and physical wellbeing.  Of course the Council is also supporting the 2025 UK City of Culture bid.

Bradford is rich in heritage, some of it is physical, tangible.  We have fantastic built heritage across the district: amazing public buildings, historic mills; we have innovative museums with amazing collections; stunning, famous landscapes such as Ilkley Moor and the moorland in Haworth that so inspired the Bronte sisters, as well as our canals and rivers. 

We have unique, community and intangible heritage.  Our communities are full of stories, some of which are lived privately, many of which are told publicly. We are a city of campaigns and campaigners and a place of migration and refuge.  Heritage can be found right across our district.

We have a living, diverse cultural sector that tells our stories: libraries, literature festivals, performing arts companies and venues, galleries, artists, writers, musicians, street artists, community festivals, all kinds of story tellers.  Creativity thrives in every corner of our district and the people of Bradford.  The wider district as well as the city are our greatest creative asset.

All of these things intersect.  There is no one "Bradford Story" – there are many stories.

However, at this pivotal time we know we need to do more to stimulate heritage-based activity in the district, to allow heritage to deliver to Culture Is Our Plan and the 2025 bid. We must build capacity and confidence within the heritage sector, ensure our work and funding is reflective of our population and engage the community.

We must also develop a coherent plan for culture and heritage, so we are working on a  Heritage Action Plan and a consultant for that will be appointed shortly.

We need to build skills and capacity for people to tell their own stories, explore their places within Bradford’s wider history and heritage. We need to find ways to allow artists to illuminate our heritage in ways that are contemporarily relevant and help us all understand.  We want to promote the relevance and value of culture, heritage and creativity in people’s lives and encourage people to get involved heritage. We want to support activity across all areas of the district and engage people currently underrepresented in the district’s heritage sector.

Contract management 

We expect the work to begin in January 2022 and be completed by mid-2022.

The contract will be led by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

The Council, at its discretion, may not award a contract and will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in replying to this tender.

The Council will apply the HMRC IR35 (intermediaries) test to determine if:

A) The successful Bidder would be providing services to the Council through an intermediary company, and

B) Whether appropriate deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions should be made from any payment by the Council.

The HMRC IR35 test can be found at https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/setup

The project will be managed on a day to day basis for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council by Nicola Greenan, Principal Officer for Cultural Partnerships.

Office space will be provided in a cultural hub building with the 2025 bid team, providing cross-sector liaison and ideas generation, and the work will be outreach focused.

Award criteria 

A proposal for undertaking the work should include your Knowledge and Skills related to the points below. Please also send us your up to date CV. 

Knowledge and Skills

1.    Experience in the development and delivery of socially engaged arts projects, especially in underserved communities and preferably, but not essentially, in a heritage or civic context.

2.    An understanding of and experience in community outreach and experience in community project development, especially in underserved communities. Excellent communication skills appropriate to this.

3.    An understanding of the various forms of heritage, including physical, community and intangible heritage.

4.    Ability to innovate new ways of engaging and fostering amazing moments.  

5.    Stakeholder engagement and management skills.

6.    Knowledge of Bradford or your approach to finding out beyond using Google.

How you will conduct the contract

We envisage that the artists will work for up to 40 days, over a period of some months. The exact work pattern will be determined by the artist and agreed with the Council as the project gets underway.  A proposal for undertaking the work should also include:

1.    Your proposed working methodology in broad terms.

2.    How you will organise your work and propose working with your colleague/s.

3.    An outline of the internal responsibilities and liaisons if you are applying as more than an individual.

4.    Your daily charging rate taking into consideration the suggest timeframe and the budget below.

5.    The work must reflect the Council’s relevant policies, including but not limited to Inclusion and Diversity, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety and Safeguarding. 

6.    The successful bidder will be required to report regularly to the Culture, Policy and Events team at intervals to be agreed, and may be required to work closely with other Council teams, contractors and staff.

Fees and payment

This is a fixed fee contract; the price schedule will remain firm for the duration of the Contract.

Please specify your proposed payment schedule, including fees and costs, VAT and how the payment schedule relates to your proposed work timetable, in your proposal.

Interested bidders should note that a maximum budget of £10,000 is available for the artists’ fee.

There is a further £5,000 available for project development and expenses.

If the contract is required to be extended for a further period of time, or additional work is commissioned (not included in the original specification) any increase to the fixed cost shall be agreed prior to charging and will only be accepted following the Council’s agreement in writing.

If the appointed artist lives outside the Bradford District, help will be provided in sourcing affordable accommodation if required.

Selection process

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will let this contract by obtaining at least three competitive tenders/quotes and it will be let on a best value and quality basis, in which relevant experience is a major factor.

Proposals submitted will be assessed by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council against the following questions: 

1.                  To what extent does the proposal demonstrate that the potential artists has the relevant skills and experience and demonstrates an understanding of the requirements of this brief? 

2.                  To what extent are the methodology and methods appropriate to the requirements set out in this brief? 

3.                  Is the proposal, exciting, innovate and engaging?  

Application process 

The procurement timetable will be: 

Proposal return deadline:   Written submissions should be completed via CuratorSpace by 5.00pm on Friday 17th December 2021.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will notify bidders of our decision week commencing: 3rd January 2022 via email.