EVALUATION OF ARTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME RAPID AREAS OF NORTH CLONDALKIN AND WEST TALLAGHT

South Dublin County Council

Brief
Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts, in partnership with South Dublin County Council (SDCC), would like to receive expressions of interest from consultant(s) to undertake a formal evaluation of arts development activity in North Clondalkin and West Tallaght.

Description of Work
The evaluation will incorporate the following:

1. Identifying how the projects contributed to capacity building at a local level

2. Review and critique of arts projects, identifying characteristics of success and hindrances/barriers to mainstreaming and the quality of creative engagement by participants

3. Identifying how the projects provided pathways to other local services and how the work contributed to community participation

4. Capturing the cultural value of the work including participants’ perceptions, tangible and intangible benefits, skills acquired

5. Identifying the learning – cross sectoral, artist and participant orientated, interdisciplinary, organisational/corporate and community based

6. Identifying how the projects contributed to intercultural competence within and across communities

Methodology
The evaluation process and methodology should address the specifics and distinctiveness of participants, including the two main age groups in terms of outputs and outcomes.

The SDCC Arts Office is committed to assisting the consultant(s), as far as possible, with the range of supports required for undertaking the residency commissions. They will have access to local authority services, knowledge, information, facilities and networks.

Outcomes
A significant outcome of the evaluation will be a compilation of the evidence of the legacy of the projects from which the stakeholders could build a set of recommendations for continuation and improvement of the work.

Selection Criteria
The consultant(s) should demonstrate a good understanding of collaborative arts, specifically in relation to childrens’ / youth arts and community contexts, and be able to demonstrate a clear methodology that will evidence the value of collaborative arts, as well as providing a template for future potential in the arena of collaborative arts with South Dublin County Council region.

Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

§ Experience of the person(s) selected

§ Ability to have the task completed by mid September 2008

§ Value for money

§ Availability of a current Tax Clearance Certificate

The consultancy fee available for this assignment, inclusive of VAT and expenses, is €12,500.

Interested parties should apply in writing, by 12 noon on Wednesday 2 April 2008, outlining previous experience and how the evaluation will be undertaken:

Assistant Director, Create, 10/11 Earl Street South, Dublin 8 or by e-mail to finance@create-ireland.ie

The submission should include the following:

Response to the details of the brief including the approach that will be taken, methodology, reporting structure and tangible outputs
Profile of the personnel assigned to the task, experience, qualification, etc
Proposed scale of fees and how they are derived.

Candidates must be available for interview on Thursday 10 April 2008, at the Create office.

For full details and background information visit www.create-ireland.ie .To request a background information pack email: finance@create-ireland.ie or tel: 01-473-6600.