Job description
Freelance Historian (with expertise in First World War),
Dialogue, Balance and Conflict
Fee
There is a freelance fee of £3600 in total, plus some travel
expenses. The Historian will be responsible for their own tax and
national insurance. We estimate that the role will demand around
16 to 20 days.
The Historian will work from home, at Turner Contemporary in
Margate and at secondary schools in Kent.
Timescale
The work will take place between August and November 2016
Reporting
You will be working in a freelance capacity, but you will report to
the Learning Co-ordinator for Dialogue, Balance and Conflict
Apply
Please complete an application form (no CVs please) and send to
[email protected] by 5pm on Wednesday 13 July 2016.
Interviews
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview on the
afternoon of Friday 22 July 2016.
Introduction to Turner Contemporary www.turnercontemporary.org
At Turner Contemporary, we believe in the power of art to transform people and places,
doing things differently to achieve our vision Art Inspiring Change. Our mission,
Celebrating artists, creativity and learning through an ambitious programme of
excellence, Turner Contemporary in Margate enriches lives and inspires confidence to
lead transformation, guides our staff and trustees and informs everything that we do.
Our organisational values are Ambition, Collaboration, Learning and Transformation.
Since opening in 2011, Turner Contemporary has become one of the most successful
galleries in the UK. We’ve achieved more than 2 million visits and the gallery has been a
catalyst for the regeneration of Margate. Located in a building designed by David
Chipperfield Architects, on a site overlooking the North Sea, our programme of worldclass events, exhibitions of historical and contemporary art and our innovative learning
programme have fast earned the gallery an international reputation. With free admission,
great art is accessible for all.
We are committed to challenging traditional practice to make ourselves more accessible;
repositioning art as more relevant to society. Our distinctive, audience-focused
approach is integral to our success and inspires interest from our peers, nationally and
internationally.
Turner Contemporary is a charity governed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by Stephen
Sunnucks. The organisation receives revenue funding from Arts Council England and
Kent County Council and the whole team works creatively to raise additional income.
Purpose of the role
Turner Contemporary will recruit a historian, ideally based locally, who with the
support of a Learning Co-ordinator will:
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Research the impact of the First World War specifically on Margate
Create a simple resource for the team including research findings
Gain a qualification in Philosophy for Children (P4C)
http://www.sapere.org.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=68&EventId=2176 and
work with our resident Philosopher and Navigators to develop their use of
Hands on Philosophy
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Lead a training session for Navigators (Turner Contemporary’s Learning
Delivery Team) in relation to End of Empire, by artist Yinka Shonibare
OBE.
Lead a training session for Gallery Assistants and the wider team in
relation to End of Empire
Contribute to a public Hands On Philosophy session exploring End of
Empire in October 2016.
Deliver 6 assemblies/sessions at secondary schools in East Kent in
relation to the First World War and End of Empire to encourage school
visits to the gallery and bookings for a 14 -18 NOW Schools Day at the
gallery in October 2016.
Contribute to a 14-18 NOW event for Secondary Schools at Turner
Contemporary in October 2016, working with Navigators and using a
Hands On Philosophy approach.
Ideally work as part of a heritage education team outside of this project,
and be able to share his/her new learning with wider group in a heritage
venue
Contribute findings/sharing experience of the project at the 1418 NOW platform
event
Person Specification
Skills
A degree in a related
subject
Research skills
Exemplary written and
Essential
Desirable
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verbal communication
skills
Full clean driving licence
and use of a car
Experience/knowledge
Understanding of and
enthusiasm for the
vision and values of
Turner Contemporary
Knowledge
of/enthusiasm for
contemporary and
historical visual art
Experience of working in
heritage, arts or gallery
education
Experience of working in
schools, with teachers
and pupils, and an
understanding of the
current wider
educational context
Interest and expertise in
First World War history
Interest in Philosophical
Inquiry and a variety of
pedagogical approaches
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More Information about the project
Dialogue, Balance and Conflict in partnership with 14-18 NOW
As part of the 14-18 NOW programme of First World War Centenary Art
commissions, Turner Contemporary’s Sunley Gallery is transformed by major
works by leading contemporary artist Yinka Shonibare MBE.
Co-commissioned by Turner Contemporary and 14 -18 NOW, Shonibare’s newest
sculptural work End of Empire explores how alliances forged in the First World
War changed British society forever, and continue to affect us today. The new
work features two figures dressed in the artist’s signature bright and patterned
fabrics; their globe-heads highlighting the countries involved in the First World
War. Seated on a Victorian see-saw, the entire work slowly pivots in the gallery
space, offering a metaphor for dialogue, balance and conflict, while
symbolising the possibility of compromise and resolution between two
opposing forces.
The metaphor for dialogue, balance and conflict reflects Turner Contemporary’s
approach to learning across the organisation. The Learning Team uses
Philosophical Inquiry at the core of its practice, from training staff to working with
schools. This approach brings together hands-on exploration with a philosophical
structure that supports creative questioning and thinking. We have worked in
partnership with The Conversation Agency since 2010 to develop our use of hands-on
philosophy. All staff, and in particular Gallery Assistants at Turner Contemporary are a
central element of our interpretation strategy and have a major impact on how every
visitor feels about their experience in the galleries. We regularly use Philosophical
Inquiry to encourage thoughtful questioning. Eleven Navigators help us to deliver the
Learning Programme, and all have trained with a Philosopher to ensure that a Curiosity
Pedagogy is central to our work. Navigators are all accredited in Philosophy for Children
at Level One and embed creative questioning across the programme. All Navigators
currently have an arts/creative background.
We propose to bring historical expertise into the team at Turner Contemporary
by recruiting an historian with knowledge of the First World War, an area that is
currently lacking in the organisation. This historian will enable us to explore
four key questions:
1. Can a historian increase expertise in relation to the First World War in
the team at Turner Contemporary (particularly for Gallery Assistants and
Navigators) to enhance visitors’ learning and engagement?
2. Can this new expertise enable us to create new and stronger links wi th
schools, and work more effectively across the curriculum?
3. Can Turner Contemporary’s Curiosity Pedagogy and use of Hands On
Philosophy have a positive impact on heritage education, both at Turner
Contemporary and potentially in other heritage sites? Are people
currently encouraged to express opinions and ask questions at heritage
sites, and can our approach empower people to do this more?
4. Can the work End of Empire be explored through the lens of Philosophical Inquiry
and context of WWI history harmoniously, deepening learning experiences?
Potential legacy of this work:
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Enable the Learning Team to consider how bringing new expertise into
the Navigator team, and instilling a Hands On Philosophy approach, can
make the team more relevant and sustainable in future.
If there is demand from schools, the historian could potentia lly become a
permanent member of the Navigator team, delivering sessions at the
gallery and in schools.
If there is interest from heritage organisations, this new Navigator could
take our Hands On Philosophy approach into the heritage sector,
potentially generating income for Turner Contemporary and improving
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audience engagement in other organisations, particularly those involved
in 14-18 NOW
Enable the wider team at Turner Contemporary to benefit from a deeper
understanding of the First World War, influencing future projects such as
Journey with the Waste Land