A blog by Helen Green, Head of Bridge North East.
There is a very good evaluation report of the work that Bridge North East has supported in Northumberland over the last 3 years. The programme has been very successful but in this blog we thought it is important to highlight the ‘quiet work’. And by quiet work we mean the stuff that happens behind the scenes, that is never really public facing, or written up as such, but is hugely important in creating successful outcomes and impact.
At the centre of this work was an ambition to strengthen relationships between the cultural sector and schools in Northumberland. What this eventually led to was the appointment of Dr Judy Thomas, to the role of Cultural Enterprise and Skills Coordinator. In this role Judy developed a programme of cluster models which in essence has worked to support and strengthen numerous communities/networks.
The starting point was pretty basic, and there were numerous failed attempts to start to build momentum. Schools were not responding to invitations, nobody was connecting and at times it will have felt like flogging a dead horse…and this is where the quiet work begins. Reflecting on this lack of response, thinking about why people weren’t taking up the offer, Judy realised that the language she was using to try and attract the attention of teachers, the language of the formal education sector, was in fact the very thing turning teachers off.
Stop, think, reflect and adapt. What does the light-touch approach look like, if you are a teacher battling the everyday, what is it that you need, what would make you respond, what will remind you that you aren’t just a teacher, that you are a creative practitioner in your own right? Judy’s response to this was to rename her networking event to an invitation to a ‘Creative Cream Tea’, and boom! Huge take up.
‘Creative Cream Teas has been met with openness and willingness. The sessions hosted by schools in school has been especially inviting. Visiting other schools “nosing around” (Northumberland Teacher) fulfils a a shared sense of curiosity. This is not just about making connections and getting new ideas; the sharing of best practice offers reassurance that existing ideas are working well’
The quiet work, the behind the scenes work is also hugely time-consuming and can feel very slow. As in most co-ordination roles, a significant thrust of this work is about nurturing and developing trusting and longstanding positive relationships. Communication therefore is key, how do the communication channels remain open, how is momentum sustained? Put simply, in the case in Northumberland it was by always being there. Always being in regular email contact, flagging opportunities, following up invitations, visiting in person, being a face that people know and welcome, being a brilliant personal contact; in essence, committing to communication.
There is no doubt that the work that Judy and Northumberland Arts Development Team have initiated will continue to flourish. Embarking on thier forward journey there is a deep understanding of the importance of the quiet work. And in all our work, while budgets continue to be squeezed it has never been more important that we continue to afford the space and time for the quiet work to continue! Shhhhhhhhh
Bridge North East Blogs 