Freelance Opportunity with London’s Transport Museum and the London
Regional Hub.



Background information

Regional Hubs are consortia of regional museums and they are at the heart
of the new vision for non-national museums in England.  Central government
funding is being provided to equip Regional Hubs to act as leaders in
delivering improved museum services to a wider audience than ever before.

The London Museums Hub  will play a key role in the drive to bring about a
renaissance for non-national museums in London.

Regional Hubs have been given £12.2m by the DfES to ‘deliver a
comprehensive service to schools.’ Over the next two years, the London
Museums Hub will deliver an Education programme, which will aim to maximise
the educational potential and benefit of London’s museums.

Specifically, the EPDP is designed to contribute towards a national target
set by DfES, to increase the number of contacts between school-age children
and regional hub museums by 25% by 2005/6.



‘Storytelling in the Regions’

This project aims to equip London’s Transport Museum and its partners
(Livesey Museum for Children and Greenwich Borough Museum) with the
necessary skills and expertise to develop and deliver storytelling sessions
as part of their respective schools’ programmes.

The project will involve the development and delivery of a substantial
programme of storytelling over the next 18 months.  (Please note that the
majority of the sessions will take place in the participating museums but
some may be held as part of an outreach programme in schools.)



Role of Freelancer
A freelancer(s) is being sought to develop and deliver storytelling
sessions for London’s Transport Museum during 2005 and for the partner
museums during 2005/2006.  The sessions should closely relate to the
displays/collections at each museum.

The freelancer (s) appointed will be expected to consult with teachers and
museum education staff to develop storytelling sessions which are
appropriate to the linguistic and cognitive competence of Key Stage 1, 2
and 3 pupils.  They will liaise closely with museum staff to assist them in
devising future storytelling workshops.




Selection Criteria

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate:
• Experience of developing and delivering storytelling sessions.
• Have a proven track record in storytelling projects in a museum
        environment.
• Understanding and keenness to unlock imagination in children
        through the use of museum collections as a creative stimulus.
• Ability to engage audiences of various ages.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• High standard of written skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.


Budget and Timetable

Successful applicants will be appointed by 19 January 2005.  There will be
one initial set up meeting and three progress meetings.  Planning the
storytelling sessions will also necessitate visits to the museums involved
in the project to assess facilities, collections etc.

Timetable for sessions

• 2 days during half- term February 2005
        ( Fee: £2,000  - 6 days development and 2 days delivery)

• April 2005 – March 2006
       (Fee: £7,250   - minimum of 4 days development and 25 days delivery*)

        *extra fees will be available to cover extra sessions.


Fees are inclusive of VAT, travel and subsistence.

The successful applicants must submit their storytelling sessions by 7
February 2005.

Application is by CV and production of a quote.

All bids should be sent to [log in to unmask] by 17 January 2005.

For a discussion about a potential bid for this work, please contact Karen
Bell on 020 7565 7290.