ARTS & CULTURE CONSULTANT

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. 

objectives

We are seeking to recruit a consultant to support the British Council Lebanon’s Arts and Culture Department with the coordination, implementation, promotion and reporting of its activities, internally and externally, for a 4-month mission (December 2021 to March 2022).

The Arts and Culture Programmes at British Council Lebanon aim to initiate and celebrate the best of Lebanon and UK arts. It explores new models of programming and partnerships to support the creative sectors, while generating strong visibility for the projects to ultimately strengthen the creative economy, maintain current and attract new partnerships and instigate interest from the stakeholders in the cultural sector, artists and creative practitioners and the general public.

Our Arts and Culture programme in Lebanon focuses on enabling mutually beneficial cultural projects.  Our new initiative is thought as a talent development program in collaboration with existing hubs in different creative sectors. It recognizes potential in each of the sectors and responds to the needs and ambitions of those who work in it. It aims to support creative talents from Lebanon while building strong connections with the UK. Our programme falls into British Council’s focus on creative expression, exchange, and enterprise.

Our initiative is about upskilling, growth and thrive. Each program will focus on different aspects of propelling careers in the field it serves.

programme objectives

Through our arts programme, we aim to empower the arts sector in Lebanon and the UK by:

• Raising awareness, understanding and appreciation of the breadth, depth and diversity of the local and the UK arts and culture, connecting more artists, institutions and audiences in both countries, building new cultural connections and fostering an increase in creative collaborations.
• Empowering artists while establishing a platform for culture of dialogue and create a shared understanding with peers across Lebanon and the UK on how to support the development of the arts sector
• Promoting our local and international initiatives including grant activities and the grantees
• Celebrating the plurality of artistic expression responding to the current local and global challenges.
• Supporting creative people to adapt and upskill, while understanding the requirements to sustain their art and themselves, as well as help them expand their network of collaborators and experts.
• Setting up a clear strategy and plan for the visibility of the British Council Arts programme in Lebanon

At the British Council, it is our purpose to find ways for communication and collaboration in spite of different cultural traditions and worldviews. We want to work together with our partners around the world to find ways to bring people closer and find solutions to our common challenges. Differences in profession, status, race, ethnicity, political loyalty, etc, should not stop us from finding common ground to make this a better world for ourselves and for our children.

important dates

Deadline for applications:

21 November 2021

Beginning of Assignment:

01 December 2021

End of Assignment

31 March 2022

deliverables and scope of work

Activity: Content Creation

Working time: 60%

Scope of work: 

• Prepare presentations to update management on the project’s progress and showcase the project’s value.
• Gather and generate content for website and social media using adapted tools and software.
• Support partners with their social media campaigns.
• Support partners in drafting newsletter to contacts, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Draft press release for projects
• Facilitate liaisons with media outlets
• Draft impact and success stories for internal and external use

Activity: Evaluation and Reporting

Working time: 40%

Scope of work:

• Contribute to project learning and exchange (reflection, learning events etc.)
• Collect and analyze field testimonies, success stories and reflections of artists and creative people on the journey of positive pathway to produce a report of MSC.
• Other deliverables may be agreed during this consultancy between the British Council SRO and supplier.

criteria

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

• Experience of effective and efficient delivery processes, evaluation and reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills
• Good standard of written and verbal communication including experience in making formal presentations in art and culture related subjects in English and Arabic.
• Experience in producing content (stories, updates, news) with a focus on the arts and cultural sector
• Proficient in the use of a personal computer and business applications software e.g. Excel, Word and other MS office applications and graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Experience of developing and delivery of events/community engagement projects desirable.
• Experience in writing articles for the published media: newspapers, magazine as well as news websites is desirable.
• Ability to live and work / consultancies in Lebanon.

The consultant will understand and make decisions which are affected by to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) legislation and policy. Additionally, he/she will exploit opportunities brought by diversity and build them into all planning.

The consultant will understand the importance of child protection and ensure polices and processes are in place to offer maximum protection of young people at all relevant events and venues and ensure compliance with BC Child Protection policy.

The consultant will be working according to a preset schedule validated by the Arts and Culture Programme Manager. They will collaborate very closely with the Deputy Director, the Project Support Officer and the Communications Officer and other Programme Managers.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status.  We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.