Overview of In On The Act

In On The Act is a new creative project in four locations across the Highlands. The project will initiate creative conversations with people from each area, exploring their stories and aspirations for their communities. These conversations will be led by Eden Court’s Engagement facilitators in conjunction with the Community Partner in each area.

Professional artists will be commissioned to create four new performance pieces in response to the themes that arise. For example, this could be a piece of drama, a community choral piece, a piece of music or a dance performance with local young people. It will depend on the vision of the respective artists and the themes which emerge from the communities involved, as well as the practicalities of delivery in the different locations.

Local people will be invited to engage with the development process through work-in-progress sharings prior to a final performance in each area.

In On The Act will:

• be a creative way to explore themes and issues pertinent to contemporary Highland communities
• develop four new pieces of performance for Highland audiences
• build relationships within communities and with Eden Court in the longer term

What we are looking for in a Community Partner

Central to In On The Act is a local presence in each area to inform the project while it is happening and provide continuity following the project’s conclusion – we are seeking a Community Partner in each location to support this. Community Partners could be an individual or an organisation as we recognise that community infrastructure will vary in each location. We welcome interest from all communities and cultural backgrounds.

Interested Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• a track-record of delivering community-led work
• a commitment to, and good connections with, your local area
• a desire to use live performance as a creative tool
• a need/desire from your local community to participate in this project
• availability over the project timeline as outlined below

Recruitment of Community Partners in four distinct areas across the Highlands.

Fee

£5500 – based on roughly 27.5 days at £200 per day

Description of role and project timeline

February – April 2024

• Recruitment of Community Partners in four distinct areas across the Highlands.

May – October 2024

• Delivery of five open workshops exploring possible themes in each location led by Eden Court’s Engagement Team. In addition, there will be 5 x ½ days per location for engaging with existing groups, such as community meetings, schools and social groups.
• Recruitment of artists to participate in the project. The commissioned artist(s) for each location will join the workshops from August onwards.

Community Partner involvement:

• Provide advice and support on how best to engage participants in your area, as well as taking a lead with on-the-ground recruitment and finding space for workshops (3 days).
• Inform the content of, and be present at, the open workshops and existing group meetings, bringing local insight to the process (7.5 days).
• Be a member of the artist selection panel (1 day).

November 2024 – May 2025

• Commissioned artists will create a short performance piece (c.30 minutes) in response to the themes generated in the facilitated community conversations.
• Two work-in-progress sharings will be presented locally, as well as a performance of the final piece.
• A further open workshop session will take place aimed at exploring the ideas and actions that have come up through the project that community members may want to take forwards.
• All four pieces will then be performed together at Eden Court.

Community Partner involvement:

• Organisation and promotion of the work-in-progress sharings and final performance in your area, supported by Eden Court’s Producing and Marketing teams. This includes finding dates and a suitable location (10 days).
• Inform the content of, and be present at, the final facilitated session (1 day).

June – July 2025

• Evaluation of project and impact.
• Consideration of project legacy, including supporting community members to take forwards any ideas for action which may have come up through the project.

Community Partner involvement:

• The Community Partner will have a bank of days to evaluate the project in collaboration with Eden Court, to look at the at the legacy and to start to implement any community actions that come out of the project (5 days).

To Apply

Please send us an expression of interest responding to the prompts in What we are looking for in a Community Partner:

• a track-record of delivering community-led work
• a commitment to, and good connections with, your local area
• a desire to use live performance as a creative tool
• a demonstrated need/desire from your local community to participate in this project
• availability over the project timeline as outlined above

Feel free to also include any relevant website links.

Expressions of interest can be submitted as:

• a written document (either on paper or emailed) no longer than 500 words
• a video no longer than five minutes
• a voice recording no longer than five minutes
• a Power Point presentation no more than ten slides (and no more than 500 words)

Please send to producing@eden-court.co.uk (large files can be submitted to this email via We Transfer) or to Susannah Armitage, Eden Court, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm on Monday 18 March 2024.

Meetings with shortlisted candidates will take place from Monday 15 April and successful candidates will be notified by Monday 22 April 2024.