Project Summary:  

 The Rothschild Foundation seeks to strengthen its approach to supporting the resilience of arts and heritage organisations across Buckinghamshire as part of the development of its Strategic Fund. This Fund is an open-application grants programme focused on sector resilience and is accessible to not-for-profit creative organisations benefiting the county. We would like to commission an independent facilitator to lead a conversation that explores what resilience means to arts and heritage organisations in Buckinghamshire and how they view resilient, thriving creative organisations could best be achieved here.  

We would like to hear from facilitators who have an interest in the arts but may not be grounded in professional experience within that sector. Most importantly the facilitator will prioritise openness and inclusion, ensuring that the insights shared with the Foundation are grounded in the lived experience of arts professionals, creatives, managers of local venues and creative programmes, and those with a vested interest in the arts and heritage sector.  

Background:  

The Rothschild Foundation’s Strategic Fund supporting the resilience of the arts and heritage sector in Buckinghamshire has been open for applications since 2023. This funding programme currently aims to support work that:  

• Builds the capacity and professional development opportunities for creative professionals,  

• Develops partnerships to support creative projects and business planning,  

• Explores new ideas and approaches and embeds a culture of learning, testing and adapting.  

To date, the Rothschild Foundation’s resilience support has been delivered through core, multi-year grants to individual organisations. It has also included investment in a local sector-support organisation, Buckinghamshire Culture, an independent charity offering training, networking and a platform for local arts and heritage organisations. Buckinghamshire Culture aims to deliver the county’s cultural strategy, co-authored with the local authority.  

We want to ensure that the Rothschild Foundation’s Strategic Fund is relevant, useful and fully utilised by the sector. We are aware that arts and heritage organisations in Buckinghamshire continue to be financially fragile and hardworking staff have limited capacity to think innovatively and long-term. There is increasing competition for funding and skills gaps in the use of data and audience development persist.  

Consultation Aims: 
Through this consultation with arts and heritage professionals and sector stakeholders in Buckinghamshire we want to: 

• Develop a shared definition of resilience with the local arts and heritage sector.  

• Explore how resilience can be rooted in a local context and take account of the opportunities and challenges of Buckinghamshire.  

• Identify the skills, resources and conditions that organisations in Buckinghamshire believe they need to achieve resilience.  

Approach: 
The facilitator will lead focus groups and stakeholder meetings independently, ensuring participants feel comfortable speaking openly. The tone of the consultation should be honest, curious and exploratory with a willingness to challenge assumptions. The process must be inclusive and welcoming of different communication and learning styles. The facilitator will be expected to lead practical coordination of the focus groups and meetings whether online or in person.  

Target Audience: 
Consultation Sessions. We would like the facilitator to hear a broad range of voices, including arts and heritage professionals across Buckinghamshire and regional organisations offering comparative perspectives. The Rothschild Foundation currently funds 26 arts and heritage organisations in Buckinghamshire, all of which would be invited to join a consultation session. In addition, we can share a more wide-reaching call for participation via Buckinghamshire Culture, the local sector support organisation. 

Stakeholder Interviews. The facilitator will draw on informed views from relevant stakeholders such as other arts and heritage funders, delivery organisations with expertise in sector support and those working in the arts to strengthen organisational strategies. Stakeholder interviews may include organisations that have successfully addressed resilience challenges. Candidates for stakeholder interviews will be selected by the facilitator with input from the Rothschild Foundation’s Grants team, ensuring a balance of perspectives and strong representation from smaller organisations and those operating in under-resourced areas. 

Deliverables:  

Workplan 

A comprehensive workplan setting out the proposed approach, methodology, timelines, engagement plan and key milestones. Submitted in Microsoft Word.  

Sector Consultation Sessions 

Facilitation of two sector consultation sessions for approx’ 10 attendees each.  

A written summary of each session, capturing key themes, insights and emerging recommendations. Session summaries should be provided in Microsoft Word.  

Stakeholder Meetings 

Facilitation of five meetings with relevant stakeholders. 

A written summary of each meeting, outlining key points raised, insights and emerging recommendations. Meeting summaries should be provided in Microsoft Word.  

Mid-Point Update 

A written mid-point update to the Rothschild Foundation’s Grants Team, setting out progress to date, early findings and any adjustments to the approach. Submitted in Microsoft Word.  

Final Report 

A final project report reflecting the consultation findings, including the views of arts practitioners and sector-led recommendations. Submitted in Microsoft Word.  

Project Meetings 

Attendance at three project meetings with the RF Grants Team to be held at the office in Windmill Hill, Waddesdon or on Teams at inception, mid-point and final report stages. With information shared in PowerPoint.  

Timescale:  

This is a one-off, fixed-term project to run between May to November 2026.  

Fee:  

The budget for this consultation is £8,500 + VAT, inclusive of expenses. This includes approximately 11 days of the facilitators’ time and a modest supplementary budget for venue costs, refreshments and participants’ expenses and time.  

Proposed Payment Schedule:  

Payment will be made by the Rothschild Foundation on the successful completion of the workplan and the final report. The amounts will be confirmed in the contract and will be paid following a Purchase Order / Invoice process. 

Confidentiality and Copyright:  

The facilitator is required to maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary or privileged information to which they will be exposed whilst undertaking this project. The Rothschild Foundation will be entitled to the copyright and all other intellectual property rights of the project deliverables. 

Application Process:  

Applications are welcomed from individual consultants and consortia with relevant experience. Applications should include:  

• A statement outlining how your experience and skills would enable you to successfully deliver the consultation (300 words)  

• A narrative explanation of how you would approach the project (250 words)  

• A statement explaining your interest in the consultation (250 words) 

• A copy of your CV (or CVs if applying as a consortium) 

• Details of two referees 

Submit your application by email to [email protected] by 9am on 17th April.  

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview on Teams on Wednesday 23rd April.