OPPORTUNITY: Freelance Artist/Creative/Design professional sought for commission

OPPORTUNITY

Overcoming Shocking Debt (OSD) is a 10-month project, run by Transforming Communities Together (TCT), which addresses the financial vulnerability of people for whom a traumatic life event coincides with additional high expenditure.

Examples of these communities of circumstance are bereaved families with the costs associated with funerals; couples splitting up with the costs of setting up another home; and those who have been caring for a relative when the Carer’s Allowance ceases.

The Diocese of Lichfield are seeking an Artist/Creative/Design professional to help engage with people in these circumstances, designing graphic material which will attract their attention and speak to their situations.

The project recognises that the emotional impact of such a traumatic life event makes it more difficult for those involved to make optimal financial choices, and hence they are additionally vulnerable to enter into unsustainable debt. It also recognises that when they are experiencing a traumatic life event, they might not actively seek help and so more orthodox (text-based) methods of engaging them might not work, hence the need to commission an Artist/Creative/ Designer to help.

The project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, will run from November 2019 to August 2020.

They have employed a Development Worker, Gurj Shergill, to engage with three to six communities of circumstances helping them access appropriate financial support. And are now ready to commission an Artist/Creative/ Designer to work alongside him.

Tasks being commissioned and intended outcome
The task of the Artist/Creative/Designer is to produce graphic material expressing the underlying issues of financial pressures which coincide with particular traumatic life events. Others in similar circumstances should readily identify with the material produced. It is their understanding, formed through a pilot on funeral poverty, that making offers of financial support available in written format alone is not sufficient to engage people whilst they are still emotionally impacted by traumatic life events, hence the use of art as an ‘oblique’ approach.

They seek to create visual imagery, shaped by the ideas and words used by those with lived experience. This will be informed by engaging with some of these individuals in focus groups as distinct communities of circumstances gathered around their Overcoming Shocking Debt – a project of Transforming Communities Together particular life event to learn more about their experiences and seek their ideas. Following focus groups, the appointed person will produce graphic materials that will capture the attention of other members of the same communities of circumstance.

The Development Worker is responsible for selecting the communities of circumstance, and introducing members to the appointed person. TCT will retain copyright for all material produced, for which the Artist/Creative/Designer will be credited.

This project is being externally evaluated. After its conclusion, TCT’s intention is to apply to the National Lottery Community Fund for a five-year project, Overcoming Shocking Debt, which would utilise the Artist/Creative/Designer’s work and to which the appointed person could be commissioned to make further contributions.

Expressions of interests are invited, to apply please submit:
A proposal of up to 1,000 words outlining:
- Your creative practice
- Why you think you are right for this project
- How you might approach this commission
- Budget breakdown (max £5,000 including fees and expenses)
- Examples of your work

Premises around the Black Country for the focus groups to be held in will be arranged by the Development Worker.

Deadline Noon 28th February 2020
Location of activity Black Country-wide
Fee up to £5,000 (All-inclusive VAT, travel and material costs.)
Artform Graphic

Further details david.primrose@lichfield.anglican.org

Invitation to present ideas 13th March 2020 (Provisional)
Estimated timeline of project May, June, June, July and August 2020

Send Applications to: David Primrose, Executive Director, TCT
E-mail: david.primrose@lichfield.anglican.org

Please note this opportunity is not part of a CBC project