Opportunities

Writers Fellow 2007-2008 Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland

Background

The Creative Education Arts Team (CREATE) is part of Education, Social Work and Community Services. The team is responsible for ensuring that the arts, culture and creativity are recognised and maximised as key tools in nurturing and developing inherent potential in children, their teachers and others.

The team is made up of three full time posts. Vanessa Morris, Cultural Co-ordinator, Creative Arts and Chris Ballance, Cultural Co-ordinator, Performing Arts. The team is managed by Anne Campbell, Education Officer, Culture and Creativity. CREATE works to a defined policy ‘Making Connections’ (A Policy Statement for Creative and cultural Education in Dumfries and Galloway Schools Services) Literature and creative writing in particular is a key strand in our delivery of ‘Making Connections’. 

The highest quality art practice is central to the work of CREATE and partnerships with the following departments or organisations are crucial to effective working: Children’s Services; Community Learning and Development; Community Planning; Strategic Services; Council’s Arts Team; Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association (DGAA); Museums; Galleries and key venues across the Authority.

The Fellow’s work in the schools will also reflect and respond to the individual school or departmental plan to reflect the relevance, impact and position of a professional writer working in the schools context.

Pupil Contact and Evaluation

The residency will take place within one cluster of schools in the Nithsdale Area of Dumfries and Galloway. There will be one secondary school; Sanquhar Academy and two primary schools; Sanquhar and Kelloholm. Time will be spent between the three schools working with young people from P4 (age 9) in the primaries to S3 (up to age 15) at the Academy. One focus for the fellowship will be to work particularly with boys to instil a love of and confidence in reading books and writing. The fellow will be required to prepare, deliver and review the creative writing of pupils with teaching staff with time for sharing experiences with other pupils and parents.  The remaining 50% of time as part of the fellowship will be spent on the writer’s own professional work, which can be undertaken in, or out-with the authority – depending on prior commitments.

The writer will also be asked to share their experiences with other creative writing partners in the region including twilight sessions for teachers and probationer teachers. The fellow will work with an external evaluator to monitor and analyse the impact of the writers fellow for the project partners and young people.


Sharing Events

It is planned that public readings for peer groups, teaching staff and parents will conclude the residency. In addition to this a publication would be produced to share selected edited works between schools and authorities. The work will also be shared via the CREATE website and through Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) schools e-bulletin.

NB: It is estimated that the fellow will work with small groups of pupils and classes of up to 30 and that this creative process will not only impact on their approach to work in school but also in their home environment.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is now an entitlement for all teaching staff.  The fellow will therefore be asked to contribute to this process though the delivery of creative writing opportunities for staff. The writer’s residency will help to develop creative expression, confidence, the learning of new skills and working with professional artists.


Fellowship Details

What
The Creative Education Arts Team (CREATE) is seeking to appoint a writer to undertake a fellowship in 3 schools in Dumfries & Galloway.

When
The Post will run for an initial six month period starting in January 08 with the option of a further 6 months from September 2008 and will be funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council (CREATE and School Partners) and the Scottish Arts Council.

Time
50% of the writer’s time will be spent in contact with young people and staff, and 50% on the writer’s own work.

Fee
The annual stipend is £20,000. (£10,000 for six month Fellowship).
A supplementary travel budget and support towards accommodation of £2,000 (£1,000 for six month Fellowship) has also been identified to accommodate travel between schools and other venues in the region that support the Fellows time and towards any initial accommodation expenses.


Overview

• Schools: The aim is to facilitate a dedicated Writing Fellowship in schools in the region. The project will involve placing a professional contemporary writer into 3 Authority schools.

• Schools: The school are: Sanquhar Academy, Sanquhar Primary and Kelloholm Primary

• Pupils: The writer will work with the schools to stimulate new writing from pupils and teachers. The target audience for the residencies will be from Primary 4 to Advanced higher depending on timetabling to be agreed.

• Pupils: The focus particularly for S1 and S2 will be to help them as part of the programme of support transition phase, developing creativity, imagination, confidence and skills in young people. The focus for Primary will be P4/5/6 boys although the classes are mixed. The imaginative use of ‘new media’ and script/play writing are of particular interest but not exclusively the genres of writing that schools are interested in pursuing.

• Teachers: There will also be the potential for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or less formal work directly with teaching staff to build confidence and skills in creative writing as commissioners and contributors.

• Fellow: To support the creation of new writing inspired by their time in the region.

• Fellow: To enable the writer to develop their skills within an educational context.

• Fellow: To enable time within a vibrant rural arts community to build new networks and contacts.


Support

The fellowship will be supported by CREATE, and the Cultural Co-ordinator (Creative Arts) Vanessa Morris. The schools negotiated in advance with key staff will provide administrative support.

Timetables for site, workshop and CPD visits will be planned in collaboration with the fellow and staff to ensure the project fits appropriately with other projects the writer may be involved in and the timetables/pupil commitments within the school.   Monthly meetings will be held for the duration of the project to ensure progress and monitoring of work.

To find out more about the work of CREATE and the Authority’s cultural scene visit: www.createdumfriesandgalloway.com  

AND/OR
Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries or website www.artandcraftsouthwestscotland.com for information on other artform practice in the authority.

AND/OR
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, online database of writers at www.dgaa.net AND writers hub at www.dgcommunity.net/writers

AND/OR Literature Development Officer Andrew Forster (DGC/DGAA) 01387 253383.

DEADLINES
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 7th November. You will be notified on Thursday 8th November if you are to be invited for Interview.

INTERVIEW DATES
Interviews will be held on Thursday 15th November.

Further information and application forms are available from Vanessa Morris at CREATE, Lochside Rd., Dumfries DG2 OEL Tel 01387 720 774
e-mail: vanessam@dumgal.gov.uk  

Information you will find in your application pack:
Map indicating all participating schools in the fellowship
Making Connections – Creative & Cultural Education: A Policy Statement for School Services
Young Writers Festival Literature