Hello and welcome to the Autumn edition of Artswork’s Professional Development Newsletter. In this edition we explore the wonderful world of evaluation. Lesley Wood leaves us craving custard creams in this issue's ask the expert, we'll hear from Steve Beal at Mahdlo Youth Zone and you'll find an exclusive offer code to unlock 30% off of our upcoming evaluation course. 

We are sending you this newsletter as you have previously attended one of our training courses, or indicated an interest in our professional develoment programme. If you no longer wish to hear about upcoming training courses for arts and cultural professionals, please unsubscribe.

You are probably wondering how I managed to introduce biscuits into a conversation about evaluation. It's a skill trust me.

So think of a biscuit, how would you compare it to any other biscuit? How would you know that somebody else's idea of a biscuit was the same as your own? Let’s take the controversial jaffa cake for instance. A cake masquerading as a biscuit or vice versa?

Then what if you rated it? How about if you scored a biscuit based on dunkability and somebody else scored it based on how many you get in a packet? Can you compare? Or what if the other person doesn't care about dunkability at the end of the day?

It's all about shared term of reference and relevancy... and planning of course... every successful evaluation needs a plan...

“I’ve attended three Artswork courses over the last couple of years and found them to be very helpful. As an Arts Co-ordinator at a large and busy youth centre, delivering 600 hours of arts activities each quarter, they have helped me to gain a better understanding of my role and it’s place in a wider Arts context. The facilitator has always been very knowledgeable, engaging and able to adapt to the needs of the group (which is often diverse and from different settings).
I have also been able to get specific answers to issues that concern my particular setting; whether it be help in applying for Arts Council funding and the 7 quality principles or learning about positive evaluation and WEMWBS outcomes.

I have done a lot of training over my career and Artswork deliver consistently interesting, informative and relevant content. I never feel I’ve wasted a day and would recommend them to anyone wanting to gain depth and insight in this area of arts delivery."

- Steve Beal, Arts Co-ordinator at Mahdlo Youth Zone, Oldham

Our next evaluation course takes place at the Baltic in Gateshead on Friday 9th November 2018. 

Upcoming courses this Autumn/Winter- New dates added!

Helpful Reads from the Creative and Cultural Sector

I spend much of my time evaluating cultural learning and engagement projects. Like most people who work in this sector, I love to think of myself as a bit of an artistic soul, so I understand the pain some of you creative bods feel when it comes to evaluating your work. It can feel too dry and technical sometimes.

I’m here to preach to the evaluation nay-sayers...

We are frequently asked by funders how engagement can be established and maintained across a cohort, particularly when evaluation is something requested of the organisations involved and not self-initiated. While the answer is partly dependent on context, here is a list of the key things we advise to promote and facilitate engagement throughout the evaluation process...

Measuring things that really matter to the core values of an organisation can lead to a wide range of benefits. This case study looks at how different organisations have made use of - and benefitted from - Happy Museum tools and approaches to plan, develop and measure what matters...

Tuesday 30th October

9am- 1pm

City College, Southampton

Delivered by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Southampton Cultural Development Trust, Creative Network South and Artswork, this free event will consider the practicalities as well as how and why employers might consider hosting apprenticeships and work-based learning in a time of great uncertainty around apprenticeship provision. 

Did you know that we can bring all of our courses to you? If you need to train more than a few members of your team on the same area of work, our in-house offer brings you the best value for money and time.

"The course, delivered to our Volunteer Team, covered lots of information in concise chunks that were easy to absorb. The structure was clear, logical and effective, giving this customer-facing group a useful set of tools for the future" - British Motor Museum on their in-house Equality and Diversity Course experience, 2018