Impact Evaluation

Tender description

The objectives of Towards a National Collection are: - to begin to dissolve barriers between different collections - to open up collections to new cross-disciplinary and cross-collection lines of research - to extend researcher and public access beyond the physical boundaries of their location - to benefit a diverse range of audiences - to be active and of benefit across the UK - to provide clear evidence and exemplars that support enhanced funding going forward Towards a National Collection aims to have a transformative impact on: - Digital search and cataloguing tools for collections, and related technologies and methodologies. - Research capability: through enhanced researcher access and new cross-collection search tools, researchers will be able to exploit the potential of the nation’s research assets in innovative ways, addressing radically new research questions and thereby maintaining UK global leadership in inter-disciplinary research. - Public access and public engagement with heritage: the programme will generate research-driven public-facing outputs, including major new exhibitions and immersive installations; extend public access beyond collections’ physical location, nationally and internationally; and facilitate wider and better-informed public engagement. REQUIREMENT The objective of the consultancy is to evaluate and report on the impact of Towards a National Collection in a focussed number of areas of the cultural heritage and academic sectors, linked to the programme’s Key Performance Indicators (Annex 1). The consultancy will fall into two phases, representing mid-term (July 2023) and end-of-programme (November 2024) evaluation, both constructed around the same key components and approaches. The evaluation should include assessment of the programme’s impact on cultural institutions’ policy and strategy, digital capacity and capability, and ambitions for growth and development of their digital collections. It should also research the programme’s effectiveness at promoting interdisciplinary working, developing partnerships between the academic and cultural heritage sectors and building a community with a shared vision. The consultancy should be focussed on the above areas of impact and is not required to evaluate every aspect of the programme, including base-line measurables and the overall effectiveness of the programme in delivering key objectives. The consultant will use a range of approaches to liaise with organisations and individuals directly involved in the programme, including the Steering Committee, stakeholder and audience groups/individuals, funded Research Projects as well as, more widely, the galleries, libraries, archives and museums sector. The consultant would work closely with the Programme Director, providing her with content and an executive summary to inform her preparation of full Policy Recommendations following the mid-term evaluation, and a final end-of-programme evaluation report on the overall impact (in the above key areas) of Towards a National Collection. Consultants should have proven experience of evaluation studies within the cultural heritage or and/or arts and culture sectors.