WRITER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – commission for The Box Context The Box is a new collaboration between Stoke-on-Trent Libraries and B Arts aimed at 9-13 year olds and their families and funded by Arts Council England. Part-theatre piece, part digital workspace, it will tour libraries and other venues in Stoke-on-Trent over the next three years and will consist of two inter-related elements: The Box – a short theatre performance for one person at a time, based on an existing story that takes place in a specially-built environment. This will run on a drop-in basis during library opening hours. The Playbox – an area for reading and writing. Sofas, digital tools such as i-pads and print on demand will combine to enable participants to make their own creative responses and reflections on the story they have experienced. Young people will be able to stay and create for ten minutes or two hours. The aim is to attract young people into libraries, enable them to experience a high-quality arts activity based on ‘the power of the word’ and to reflect on it and shape their own artistic responses, and to start their lifelong reading journey and library habit. Stoke-on-Trent Libraries are working with local arts partner B Arts Ltd to manage the project. The target age-range is 9-13, with a wider accessibility for families. The Box may not be suitable for very young people (under-five). We are seeking a Young People’s Writer to contribute to making The Box, and to work alongside a Digital Media Artist and an Immersive Theatre Designer/Maker. The writer will: •
Decide on an existing story that all involved in The Box will use as a starting point (for example a ‘classic’, a myth or legend, or a novel or poem).
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Script the story that takes place in The Box itself, and work with the creative team to realise this script.
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Work with the creative team to create engaging creative activities for young people in the Playbox area.
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Lead the creative response activities alongside library staff during 6 residency weeks in libraries in Year One of the project.
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Train B Arts and library staff in year two to deliver the creative response activities.
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Participate in monitoring and evaluation as required by the project manager.
Responsible To: Project Manager and Stoke-on-Trent Library Service Location: The Development Lab, residencies and other meetings that will take place in Stoke-on-Trent. FEE: For development of narrative, work with other artists, and 6 weeks of residency leadership: £9200, payable in instalments over the first two years of the project. Inclusive of any VAT applicable and all transport and accommodation. We are aware this is a substantial commitment and would be open to job share applications. There is a commitment to the delivery of activity in Stoke-on-Trent and applicants should ensure that this is something they can accommodate. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Jan 2014 Participate in Development Lab to visit libraries, talk to young people and library staff and develop ideas for The Box with the Immersive Theatre Designer and Digital Media Designer. Feb-March 2014 Development of the narrative and work alongside the other two artists to build the Immersive theatre environment and the reflective activities. April 2014 (Easter) Test week in which the environment and activities are field tested with young people in a library. May 2014 Reworking of all elements of the project following trials ready for first ‘full residency’ in the May half-term. Summer (two weeks), Oct half-term 2014 Work with young people for three residency weeks.
OCTOBER 2014 Participate in reflection day with other artists and project staff in preparation for Year Two of project. NOVEMBER 2014 Participate in training (2 days) (focusing on engaging young people in the activities following their experience in the immersive theatre environment).
PERSON SPECIFICATION This is an innovative project so we are not expecting anyone to have done something exactly like this before. Relevant experience we are looking for would include: •
Writing for young people aged 9-13 or equivalent literary experience: this may be novels, theatre, screenplays, poetry, storytelling or online.
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Working with young people directly in schools, libraries or other settings
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Having work that has been published and is readily available through libraries and bookshops would be an advantage, though is not a prerequisite.
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Familiarity with digital media is an advantage but not essential
The qualities we are looking for include: •
Ability to write entertainingly for young people aged 9-13
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An understanding of young people and what engages and inspires them
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An enthusiasm for working directly with young people and fostering their creative work
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A willingness to work as part of a creative team and collaborate on solving problems
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A curiosity about Stoke-on-Trent and the particular contexts the work will take place
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A passion for libraries and their role in the development of young people
APPLICATION PROCESS We would ask people to respond to this tender by sending us: Their CV (including links to any work online) An idea for a ‘starting point’ story and why it would appeal to 9-13s (one page A4, bearing in mind the brief) A covering letter stating reasons for being interested in the project: please address the experience and qualities set out in the person specification. Applications should be sent to: info@b-arts.org.uk B Arts Ltd. 19 The Barracks Barracks Road Newcastle-under-Lyme For more information please contact Trevelyan Wright, Project Manager, at the above e-mail (marked clearly for his attention) or on 01782 717326. Closing Date: Friday December 13th at 12 noon. Please confirm in your application that you will be available for interview on Friday 10 January 2014 in Stoke-on-Trent. You may wish to read the Digital Media Artist brief and Immersive Theatre Designer/Maker Brief to get a better picture of the creative team that the Writer will be part of; these are available on www.b-arts.org.uk or by emailing to the address above.