Job Vacancy Advertisement

Rural Touring Dance Initiative Coordinator (NRTF)

(short-term contract with potential to extend)

Application Deadline 27 January 2023

Interviews early Feb

Start Date ASAP

Job Title: Rural Touring Dance Initiative Coordinator for NRTF

Purpose: The role of the RTDI Co-ordinator is to work closely with schemes & promoters to deliver the project in the region

Position reports to: Director, NRTF

Works with: Coordinators at Take Art and Highlights Rural Touring. RTDI Producer at The Place London

Salary and Contract Terms: 0.6 post – 3 days a week £24,666 pro rata (24 hours a week – flexible hours)

Contact Terms: This is a 3-and-a-half-year part time contract (PAYE is preferable but will consider freelance)

Whilst in the six-month probationary period the notice period will be two weeks. Once this period is successfully completed the post holder will be confirmed in the post and the notice period will be four weeks.

This post requires a willingness to work during evenings, weekends and unsocial hours as needed in order to attend live performances. Reasonable adjustments to working hours are made to facilitate this and if additional work is undertaken you will be entitled to time-off in lieu. This role will require travel around the region to attend meetings and events.

NRTF doesn’t have a fixed office and the team works remotely. You will be responsible for the running and location of your working hours. You will be responsible for supplying sufficient broadband, and if freelance the hardware (computer) that is up to standard for the role.

Applications and Interviews

How to Apply: Completed application forms should be submitted to holly@nrtf.org.uk You can download the application form for this role from our website.
For an informal chat about this role to answer any questions, you may have, please email Holly Lombardo – Director of NRTF, holly@nrtf.org.uk

Rural Touring Dance Initiative

The Rural Touring Dance Initiative (RTDI) is a national project which supports dance artists and rural promoters to make great dance performance events happen in rural spaces.

RTDI was launched in 2015 when The Place, National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF), China Plate and Take
Art joined forces to address the lack of quality dance in rural spaces. From the start, RTDI has introduced some of the UK’s leading dance companies to rural touring including Lost Dog, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, Uchenna Dance, Scottish Dance Theatre, Mr & Mrs Clark, Jo Fong and George Orange, and Joshua ‘Vendetta’ Nash.

The first phase of the project (RTDI 1) ran from 2015-2018 and was made possible by a grant from Arts Council England’s Lottery funded Strategic Touring Programme. Due to its successes, in November 2017 the project was given a further £417,000 to develop a second phase of the project (RTDI 2) which ran until 2021.

Over the years RTDI has transformed UK rural dance touring. An evaluation report of the project’s second phase published in 2022, highlighted that 98% of audiences enjoyed watching the performances, with 88% saying the experiences made them want to see more dance, demonstrating demand for high quality touring dance.

In July 2022, the current RTDI partners (The Place, Highlights, NRTF, Sonia Sabri Company, Take Art) were awarded £400,000 from Esme Fairbairn Foundation and £450,000 from Arts Council England to continue the project from 2023-2026.

As well as supporting 10 new associate venues to programme dance in rural areas and market towns, many of them in Levelling Up for Culture places, the funding will enable RTDI to support eight dance artists and companies per year to tour their work to rural areas, with over 200 performances and 90 workshops expected between autumn 2023 and summer 2026.

You can watch a film about RTDI 2 at www.ruraltouringdance.com

Rural Touring Dance Initiative Coordinators

Responsibility for planning & delivering touring, workshops & residencies will be held by three coordinators: one based at Take Art in Somerset, one based at NRTF (remote working), and one based at Highlights. The coordinators will work closely with schemes to tailor a programme of work for their region. An additional part-time RTDI producer will be employed by The Place and manage the day to day running of the project.

The three coordinators will build tight networks of contacts & relationships across the region. The coordinator based with National Rural Touring Forum will coordinate touring across Southeast, Central England, and Wales. The rural touring schemes in this region have a long history of working collaboratively to deliver joined-up tours, and the schemes have embraced the RTDI project as a way of growing their dance programming

Job Summary

Purpose

The role of the RTDI Co-ordinator is to work closely with schemes & promoters to deliver the project in the region.

Key responsibilities

• Promoting the menu to schemes in the region, providing additional bespoke information and support so that schemes can make informed choices about dance shows available for rural touring.
• Planning & delivering menu launch events live & online
• Planning & supporting pre & post show engagement events, including post show talks; engaging external chairs/panellists where required.
• Co-ordinating the Dance Champions/Ambassador scheme in the region.
• Booking touring for dance companies on the menu in the region, coordinating with schemes & other local venues & partners to plan efficient, joined up touring which supports sustainability.
• Planning & supporting artist residencies in the region, co-ordinating across schemes in the hub.
• Planning & supporting Children and Young People activities in the region, co-ordinating across schemes in the hub.
• Managing the budget allocated to the region, reporting regularly to the RTDI Producer to finesse according to the financial systems of the host scheme
• Reporting on a regular basis to the RTDI Producer & working collaboratively with other coordinators on the project.
• Coordinating regional freelance marketing support.
• Supporting individual & bespoke audience development initiatives & supporting schemes & promoters to plan effective marketing campaigns.
• Allocating Go & See and Mentoring grants to promotes and scheme managers.
• Supporting access needs of artists on tour.
• Developing links with National Dance organisations and county dance agencies in the region
• Seeing shows and attending workshops; meeting promoters, schemes and artists
• Overseeing the distribution, delivery and collection of evaluation forms

Person Specification 

Salary and Contract Terms

0.6 post – 3 days a week £24,666 pro rata (24 hours a week, flexi time)

Contact Terms

This is a 3-and-a-half-year part time contract (PAYE is preferable but will consider freelance)

Whilst in the six-month probationary period the notice period will be two weeks. Once this period is
successfully completed the post holder will be confirmed in the post and the notice period will be four
weeks.

This post requires a willingness to work during evenings, weekends and unsocial hours as needed in order
to attend live performances. Reasonable adjustments to working hours are made to facilitate this and if
additional work is undertaken you will be entitled to time-off in lieu. This role will require travel around the
region to attend meetings and events.

NRTF doesn’t have a fixed office and the team works remotely. You will be responsible for the running and
location of your working hours. You will be responsible for supplying sufficient broadband, and if freelance
the hardware (computer) that is up to standard for the role.

Applications and Interviews

How to Apply

Application Information & Support 

To apply please send either:

• A cover letter (no more than one side of A4) or a short audio or film (no more than 3 minutes long) – articulating why you are applying for this job with the NRTF, briefly outlining your skills and experiences that make you qualified for the role and an example of where you have proven that you are ambitious

Include

• An up-to-date CV 
• A completed Equal Opportunities Policy Statement and Form – https://forms.gle/t76PHa4xcpD5RFkb9

Email your Cover Letter or film and your CV and Equal Opps Form to: admin@nrtf.org.uk 

Application Deadline:

• 27 January 2023

Interview:

Will be via Zoom

• Director Holly Lombardo introduces the NRTF & what we are looking for in applicants.
• NRTF Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• NRTF Equal Opportunities Policy Form
• Film intro to Rural Touring

Access

• For an audio version of this application – on request
• For a downloadable Microsoft Word version click here

Queries:

• We are happy to answer your queries, provide additional support and proposals for sending your application in alternative ways, please email your questions and requests here:  admin@nrtf.org.uk 

Job Vacancy Advertisement

Freelance Administrator & Communications Assistant (P/T)

(short-term contract with potential to extend)

Download Job Pack

Application Out 5 October 2022

Application Deadline 2 November 2022

Interviews 7 & 8 November 2022

Start Date ASAP 2022

Job Title: Administrator & Communications Assistant– National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF)

Position reports to:     Director, NRTF

Contract:

16 hours per week / 2 days a week / Flexible working hours

6-month contract with possibility of extending

Start date – November 2022 to be agreed

Travel will be required with some evenings and weekends

Freelance role with PAYE an option with an extended contract 

Salary/fee: Freelance rate of £100 per day, £12.50phr, £26k pro rata for an 8hr day

Holiday: Paid holiday not available with a freelance contract

Based at: NRTF has no fixed office. candidate to work remotely

Probationary Period: Three months (extending to 6 months if necessary)

Notice Period: 6 weeks from both parties 

Identity checks: Confirmation of the right to work in the UK and a Disclosures and Barring Service check

Job Summary

This job is a great opportunity to contribute to the work of the National Rural Touring Forum. NRTF works with partners across the UK to develop and deliver high-quality artistic work and cultural experiences. We aim to reach more people with high-quality art and cultural experiences – strengthening rural communities. 

NRTF believes that every village can become a cultural centre and potentially recognised by major funders and policymakers. These include the Arts Council England (ACE), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other government, arts and culture sector organisations.

NRTF is looking for an experienced and motivated individual who aligns with its values to join a small but ambitious team. The role is to support and facilitate delivery of the organisation’s core objectives and responsibilities to its members.

Applicants will need to be efficient with their time, organised in their approach and flexible to changing demands. Experience in marketing, communications, and admin support is essential. While the role requires you to work remotely, you’ll need to demonstrate excellent communication skills and an ability to work closely with the team and board as well as the organisation’s diverse community of partners and members.

Key Responsibilities

Administration

• Serving as the main point of contact for all enquiries within the team, its members and partners
• Provide membership support, for profiles, renewals, building the membership offer and base
• Coordinate the teams diary of meetings, events, and project activities
• Support the collecting of data, feedback, research, evaluations and impact of existing projects
• Support the implementation of new systems, updating policies, disseminating reports & resources

Marketing and Communications Support

• Support press and media communications for all events, meetings, call outs, projects & presentations
• Edit & update website, supporting marketing and comms strategy plans, transfer to new site, use of website analytics to ascertain the relative effectiveness of ongoing campaigns
• Populate social media, coordinating blogs & member updates, respond to comments and messages
• Create, upload & distribute marketing materials, adverts, publicity, resources, reports & meeting minutes 
• Communicate with members, partners, the board, event delegates, guest directors, venues, promoters, artists and funders at all levels in person and online

Person Specification 

Essential Skills and experience:

Administration

• Positive attitude for dealing with member queries
• Excellent attention to detail
• Flexibility and willingness to learn new skills
• Proven ability to manage your time, prioritise tasks, and use your initiative

Communication

• Excellent verbal and written communication 
• Ability to work as a team, on your own, and with a range of organisational partners
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Canva, WordPress, Mailchimp, Zoom, & Eventbrite.

Desirable Skills and experience:

Industry Related

• Knowledge of live performance and touring 
• Knowledge of rural touring, living rurally and the challenges facing rural communities
• Understanding of the context within which cultural organisations operate
• An understanding of, and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion principles

• Understanding of marketing, PR and audience development within the cultural sector
• Experience of website maintenance, development, search engine optimisation (SEO) 
• Creating and implementing marketing and communication plans, press liaison
• Experience with ticketing systems, event management, budgeting and financial management 

Application Information & Support 

To apply please send either:

• A cover letter (no more than one side of A4) or a short audio or film (no more than 3 minutes long) – articulating why you are applying for this job with the NRTF, briefly outlining your skills and experiences that make you qualified for the role and an example of where you have proven that you are ambitious

Include

• An up-to-date CV 
• A completed Equal Opportunities Policy Statement and Form – https://forms.gle/t76PHa4xcpD5RFkb9

Email your Cover Letter or film and your CV and Equal Opps Form to: admin@nrtf.org.uk 

Application Deadline:

• 5pm Wednesday 2 November 2022

Interview:

Will be via Zoom on the following date – Interviews 7 & 8 November 2022

• Director Holly Lombardo introduces the NRTF & what we are looking for in applicants.
• NRTF Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• NRTF Equal Opportunities Policy Form
• Film intro to Rural Touring

Access

• For an audio version of this application – on request
• For a downloadable Microsoft Word version click here

Queries:

• We are happy to answer your queries, provide additional support and proposals for sending your application in alternative ways, please email your questions and requests here:  admin@nrtf.org.uk 

The National Rural Touring Forum are working with Julie’s Bicycle to gather information on the environmental sustainability of rural touring. This is the biggest survey on this topic that Julies Bicycle or NRTF have ever done!

This survey should provide us with details on the current impacts of rural touring, the ability for venues, artists and schemes to improve the sustainability of their practice and highlight any support which is needed to help our members with this.

NRTF are asking members to provide data from your last two touring seasons, it would be very helpful if you could specify the dates of your seasons when asked at the beginning of the survey. Please provide as much data as possible but don’t worry if there are gaps or missing data.

Everyone that completes the survey by Dec 16 2022, will be entered into our Prize Draw. We have 3 x £100 cash prizes and 2 x tickets to our NRTF 2023 Conference worth £300 each.

NRTF Director, Holly Lombardo “I am so delighted to be partnering with Julies Bicycle on this exploration. It is the first time we have been able to, not only look at what data is collected nationally, but also explore what it is telling us about our sector specifically”

Project Goals

Aim 1) of the exploration is to see what data is submitted, see what is missing, and see which methodologies we can use to get the data we need to tell our story successfully
Aim 2) see if there is a way to calculate a carbon footprint approximation
Aim 3) to have the knowledge evidence and tools to use to make a case for our sustainability
Aim 4) to explore a green charter and methods of increasing our sustainability and environmental responsibility response

Link to the survey – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/79QPHMW

About Julies Bicycle

Julie’s Bicycle is a pioneering not-for-profit, mobilising the arts and culture to take action on the climate and ecological crisis.
Founded by the music industry in 2007 and now working across the arts and culture, JB has partnered with over 2000 organisations in the UK and internationally. Combining cultural and environmental expertise, Julie’s Bicycle focuses on high-impact programmes and policy change to meet the climate crisis head-on.

Partnership between National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF), The Place, Take Art and new partners Highlights and Sonia Sabri Company awarded funding of £400,000 from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and £450,000 from Arts Council England

Rural Touring Dance Initiative (RTDI), a sector-defining partnership that brings high quality dance to rural audiences across the UK, has been awarded national funding of £400,000 from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and £450,000 from Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants. These two funding awards will ensure RTDI continues its important work over the next four years, building on its success by working with and supporting more rural touring schemes, venues and dance artists across England, Wales and Scotland.

As well as supporting 10 new associate venues to programme dance in rural areas and market towns, many of them in Levelling Up for Culture places, the funding will enable RTDI to support eight dance artists & companies per year to tour their work to rural areas, with over 200 performances and 90 workshops expected between autumn 2023 and summer 2026.

RTDI was launched in 2015 when The Place, National Rural Touring Forum, China Plate and Take Art joined forces to address the lack of quality dance in rural spaces. From the start, RTDI has introduced some of the UK’s top dance companies to rural touring including Ben Duke’s Lost Dog, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, Uchenna Dance, Tom Dale Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Mr & Mrs Clark, Jo Fong and George Orange, and Joshua ‘Vendetta’ Nash.

“The Place is delighted that Arts Council England and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation have recognised the importance of RTDI in the dance and rural touring ecologies with these significant grants. RTDI has had a transformative effect on the dance artists who have toured through the programme during the first six years. They tell us how much they enjoy the welcome they receive from rural audiences and how it now influences their approach to making, touring and talking about their work. We look forward to more magical moments of brilliant dance across the UK for another four years.” Christina Elliot, Senior Producer, The Place

“NRTF is honoured to have played a founding role in an initiative that has continued to develop audience connection to dance performances, alongside introducing the magic of rural and community touring to professional artists. We are excited for this next phase and can’t wait to see more amazing work in extraordinary places. Thank you to our funders for enabling this initiative to happen.” Holly Lombardo, Director, NRTF

The first phase of the project, RTDI 1, ran from 2015-2018 and was made possible by a grant from Arts Council England’s Lottery funded Strategic Touring Programme. Due to its successes, in November 2017 the project was given a further £417,000 to develop a second phase of the project which ran until 2021.

Over the years RTDI has transformed UK rural dance touring. An evaluation report of the project’s second phase published in 2022, highlighted that 98% of audiences enjoyed watching the performances, with 88% saying the experience made them want to see more dance, demonstrating demand for high quality touring dance.

“It is hard to put into words how special rural touring is. It is almost like visiting family you haven’t yet met.” – Artist, from the RTDI 2 evaluation report.

RTDI 3 will build on the lessons of the past two phases. RTDI 3 is anticipated to run from 2023-2026, and will see new partnerships with Highlights, a rural touring scheme working across the north of England, and Sonia Sabri Company, a Birmingham-based dance company presenting Kathak dance in a contemporary context.

RTDI 3 call out

Today, the partners announced a call out for artists to take part in RTDI. Artists with dance performances available to tour in autumn 2023 and spring 2024 are invited to apply via The Place’s website before 8 September 2022.

Artists will be supported through residencies in rural and community spaces, such as village halls, and via bursaries to adapt their existing pieces for rural touring, to develop the accessibility of their work, and to tour in an environmentally sustainable way.

For more information about RTDI, visit: Rural Touring Dance Initiative – NRTF

Call out for artists to apply to RTDI 3: https://theplace.org.uk/opportunities/rural-touring-dance-initiative-call-out-for-artists

Would you like to shape creative opportunities for rural areas?

National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) is looking for new Trustees, including a Treasurer, for its Board of Directors.

This is a fantastic opportunity to bring your skills, knowledge, experience and passion for the arts to a national charity that supports creative work in communities around the UK.

Could you contribute in one or more of these areas?

• rural, community and/or youth work;
• artistic leadership and/or practice;
• data systems and/or digital media;
• disability practice;
• environmental sustainability;
• finance/fundraising.

We are particularly looking to recruit people of colour, who are LGBTQIA+, disabled, younger and/or from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

You don’t have to have been a trustee before to apply. If you have the skills, knowledge and experience we need, we will support you through training and mentorship if needed.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 7 August.

Link to Trustee Recruitment Pack

Link to Plain Text Recruitment Pack