Tender Brief for Hull on Film A project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund About the Yorkshire Film Archive Yorkshire Film Archive (YFA) is a registered charity, established in 1988; over the past c.30 years it has grown from a small collection of films discovered through local community programmes to one of the UK s leading regional film archives, housing over 40,000 film and video titles, and respected nationally and internationally for its commitment to finding, preserving and, most importantly, creating access to its collections for the widest range of audiences. In 2012 the YFA charitable constitution was changed to incorporate responsibility for the North East Film Archive, extending the remit of YFA to find, preserve and provide public access to moving images made in, or about Yorkshire and the North East of England. The collections reveal a fascinating glimpse into life in the region over the past 120 years. From great events to everyday lives, professional and amateur filmmakers alike have recorded the people, places, changing landscapes, and industries that have shaped our regions across the decades. YFA is wholly committed to providing the widest possible access to its collections. Activities include annual programmes of community screenings, large scale events such as outdoor screenings with partners, eg cycling edits screened as part of Le Tour de France/Yorkshire, work on national sector-wide strategic initiatives most recently the BFI led Unlocking Film Heritage digitisation programme, partnerships with broadcasters, and more specialist work to reach isolated and excluded audiences, including our award-winning Memory Bank reminiscence resource packs, designed in conjunction with healthcare professionals and families for work with older people, in particular for people living with memory-related challenges such as Alzheimer s disease. YFA has also grasped the new opportunities that digital technologies have presented, developing digital engagement strategies across a range of online platforms that create opportunities to reach out to thousands of new audiences in ways which simply would not have been possible only a few years ago. YFA therefore balances the two central commitments of care, conservation and curation of collections with its outward-facing approach to creating access to the collections and finding new and innovative ways to connect and engage people with their local and regional film heritage moving images which relate directly to their communities and sense of place, their interests and shared memories, their stories about their lives. This Hull on Film project is no exception, with the first priority to safeguard Hull s film heritage, and the second, but equally important, priority of creating permanent access to those collections for everyone living, working, connected to or interested in the City of Hull.
Context for YFA s Hull on Film project Hull on Film is a new Heritage Lottery Funded project, initiated by YFA to preserve and create permanent access to its rich film heritage collections of Hull and the surrounding area. The project will create new opportunities for everyone to see, enjoy and engage with their local film heritage collections all made in, or about, their own community their lives, the places they know, the memories they share, industries, streets, schools, the great events and the local traditions and celebrations - all recorded on film, to be revealed once again as part of Hull on Film. Hull2017 UK City of Culture has brought a wealth of opportunities to highlight and celebrate Hull s film heritage. YFA has been part of the programme since the opening ceremonies on 1 st January 2017, and continues to have a strong relationship with Hull2017, and other key partners including Hull History Centre, Hull Independent Cinema Project, and the Vue Cinema, Hull. Screenings and events during the closing months of 2017 will be a key part of the Hull on Film project. In addition to the immediate opportunities for community engagement, a key ambition for Hull on Film is to create a lasting legacy, ensuring that Hull s film heritage is protected, preserved, digitised, catalogued and curated with input from the people of Hull, and made permanently accessible as an engaging and evocative online Hull on Film exhibition to complement the screening events, and ensure audiences can continue to enjoy Hull s film heritage now and into the future.
Hull on Film Contract for Delivery BASE: Yorkshire Film Archive (YFA), York St John University SCHEDULE: The work is to be completed by April 2018 FEE: REPORTING TO: INTERNAL CONTACTS: EXTERNAL CONTACTS: 6,500 ( exclusive of VAT ) plus travel expenses YFA Archive Manager YFA Director, YFA Manager, Hull on Film Editor, YFA Moving Image Archivist, and wider YFA administrative teams. Key regional partners and stakeholders, events organisers, audiences ( both physical and virtual ), sector-wide film heritage colleagues/organisations, Volunteers involved with screenings, press and media contacts CONTEXT This contract has been created as part of a new Heritage Lottery funded project; Hull on Film, which focusses on preserving, screening and creating permanent access to the rich film heritage collections of Hull and the surrounding area, which are cared for by the Yorkshire Film Archive. Hull on Film will create new opportunities for people to see, enjoy and engage with film heritage collections made in, or about, their own communities, through community screening events and participatory activities aligning with wider cultural programmes; in particular the closing months of the successful Hull2017 UK City of Culture year. In addition to delivery of screening events, the key aim of the project is to also create a lasting online legacy, giving the people of Hull (and beyond) permanent access to Hull on Film collections and the stories behind the films through an engaging and evocative online exhibition that will be available to audiences now, and in the future. YFA are therefore seeking an individual, or company, to deliver on the above events. OVERALL PURPOSE Delivery of Hull on Film will include: Delivering the public engagement programme, including liaison with key partners, stakeholders and events organisers (in conjunction with the Archive Manager), curating and presenting the screenings and ensuring those screening programmes meet the expectations of local audiences. Working with the YFA Moving Image Archivist and Editor in order to gain a thorough understanding
of the preservation needs of the collections so that appropriate content can be selected and edited for screening venues and audiences to ensure the most appropriate mix of local film heritage content. Recruiting and managing a small team of Hull-based volunteers to help with tasks such as cataloguing and curation, community engagement, digital delivery through social media strategies, and future delivery of local screenings. Curating moving image content, photographs and text/information to compile material for the final online exhibition, which should include stories/contributions/information gathered from Hull audiences as part of the screening programme. Office facilities and access to the Hull film collections will be provided at the Yorkshire Film Archive in York, but the expectation is that a reasonable amount of time will involve working in Hull, as the intention is to ensure a range of communities, organisations and venues have the opportunity to be involved in a Hull on Film screening or event. MAIN TASKS Curate and deliver up to a maximum of 10 film screenings and events in a variety of locations and venues in the Hull area. The expectation is that venues are likely to range from cinema equipped venues to smaller venues such as community meeting venues village halls, library meeting spaces and even outdoor screening opportunities. Recruit and manage up to 6 volunteers, including organisation of training, and programmes of activity cataloguing, research, assisting with presentation. Build strong, ongoing partnerships with key organisations, venues and their audiences, ensuring excellent delivery during the lifespan of the project, and leaving a partnership legacy for future YFA outreach work. Curate the Hull on Film online exhibition. EXPECTATIONS Essential: Experience of working within the cultural heritage sector (preferably screen heritage). A working knowledge of the Hull area in terms of locations, people, iconic architecture, industries, traditions and cultures that may be reflected in the film collections you are working with. Experience of public speaking, and presenting to public audiences in a format that is clear, engaging, informative and enjoyable for the audience.
Previous management or experience of working with volunteers. An understanding of curatorship and how to apply professional practice to meet the expectations of audiences. The ability to work on a self-contained project, meeting deadlines and agreed key milestones within the project timescale. Desirable: A broader understanding of the UK film heritage sector. A working knowledge of the history of film and its place in terms of cultural significance. An understanding of working across a range of web and social media platforms. Experience of working on Heritage Lottery Funded projects. PROJECT STRUCTURE The Delivery Manager/s will report directly to the Archive Manager of the Yorkshire Archive, who will manage the day-to-day operations, and ensure the project remains on time, on schedule, and delivers a high quality service to our end users. The Archive Director will have overall responsibility for reporting, and management of any budgetary changes and decision making. All layers of the management structure are set in place to support delivery of the programme, bringing additional expertise, experience and advice as required. TIMETABLE We expect the work to be delivered within a six month period, with completion of Hull on Film by April 2018. Deadline for applications Interview First screenings ( delivered by Archive Manager ) 13 th October 17 th October 26 th October Screening programme in place End November 2017 Curation of online exhibition begins January 2018 Screenings completed March 2018 Online Exhibition completed March/April 2018 Final Reporting April 2018
APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants are required to submit: A 2 page outline of your proposed approach to the project. A breakdown of the number of days you would expect to spend on the project. A CV and/or full description for yourself, and details of any additional people involved in delivery of the project, and their relevant skills and experience. The names and contacts details of two referees (individuals or organisations) with whom we can discuss your previous work in this area. Submissions will be assessed using the following criteria: Skills, knowledge and experience criteria listed in the information above. Suitability of planned approach. Submit to: Sue Howard Director Yorkshire Film Archive York St John University Lord Mayor s Walk York YO31 7EX Please email to yfa@yorksj.ac.uk with the reference FAO Sue Howard Hull on Film