Request for Proposals
Project Manager
Digital Learning Program
BACKGROUND
Craft Nova Scotia is located within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship of 1726. We acknowledge and honour the Mi’kmaq people who have cared for and continue to care for this land. As Treaty People, Indigenous and non-
Indigenous we share the mutual responsibilities for stewardship and sustainability of our cultures and community within this beautiful land. Craft Nova Scotia is committed to deepening our learning and strive to honour and uphold these Treaties through the preservation and celebration of cultural traditions and contemporary craft practices.
Craft Nova Scotia is the provincially recognized craft organization, whose mandate is to encourage and promote both the craft movement in Nova Scotia and the public awareness and appreciation of craft products and activities.
Craft Nova Scotia is seeking to engage a Project Manager to coordinate and oversee the development of a Digital Learning Program. The program is aimed at intermediate/advanced craftspeople and artists. This is an experimental program, intended to evolve and inform the development of ongoing Digital Learning and Instructional Content for Craft Nova Scotia. Workshops will be offered through a dedicated online teaching platform and will include:
- Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) professionally pre-recorded courses of varying lengths;
- Minimum of three (3) live lectures/webinars.
The Project Manager will be responsible for being the primary liaison between Instructors, Cinematographers, and Craft Nova Scotia staff. The Project Manager will provide support for the Instructors during live question-and- answer periods in both written and live-video formats with Students. As this program is intended to inform future course development, surveys of Instructors and Students will be distributed after each course to collect detailed feedback to adapt and improve the program going forward.
The Project Manager will be responsible for preparing a final report on the results of the experiment, including a summary of findings, learnings, and recommendations on the format and structure for a Digital Learning Program going forward.
We are seeking a creative and innovative individual with experience working in a digital, interactive, and creative environment. This position will help increase accessibility and shape digital craft strategies and practices in Nova Scotia.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Project management experience.
- Knowledge of online/digital course development and implementation, as either an instructor or an
administrator, are assets. - Strong communication skills.
- Experience in digital and interactive media practices and applications.
- Knowledge of leading practices and applications to create inclusive digital learning opportunities.
- Knowledge of digital educational platforms such as Teachable or Thinkific is an asset.
TIMELINE
The research, development and implementation of the Digital Learning Program is anticipated to take approximately one to one and one half years (1-1½) beginning in June 2022.
This is primarily a remote contract, however, access to Craft Nova Scotia facilities can be arranged. The successful candidate must be available to be on location during recording sessions. There is an expectation to engage with the Craft Nova Scotia Team, and the local craft community. There may also be a requirement for weekend and evening hours depending on filming and instructional schedules as part of this contract.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Craft Nova Scotia is developing a series of online courses teaching advanced techniques, to be made available via an online teaching platform. These would be the first in a hopefully ongoing series of new classes and workshops offered by the organization. Courses will be offered digitally in various formats (1-4 lessons each), 60–90-minute lessons. Examples of courses are stone setting techniques, sgraffito, basketry, and advanced bookbinding. The aim of this project is to test a variety of formats (number of lessons, most popular media, etc.) in terms of student uptake and ongoing course development feasibility.
A professional online teaching platform will be used to disseminate the courses, including video and written content, and to host live student/instructor interactions. Students will have opportunities to interact with the instructors via chat during and after each lesson, and a live video question-and-answer period will be held four-to-six weeks after the end of the course. With the possibility of having a national or international audience with digital courses, Craft Nova Scotia will increase the discoverability of Nova Scotian artistic content.
The target audience is late-emerging and mid-career craftspeople with basic tools and materials at their disposal. Craft Nova Scotia will be approaching regional Master Artisans as well as other accomplished educators as instructors. The organization will ensure a diverse group of instructors are employed, striving for gender parity and inclusion of historically underrepresented communities. Although instructors will be required to have a moderate educational background, Craft Nova Scotia appreciates the importance of looking outside of institutions at individuals who are self-taught or may have been instructed outside of a formal setting.
Instructors will be paid the appropriate CARFAC fees for preparation, presentation, writing, and royalties. A Media Artist/Videographer will be contracted to film and edit each lesson. This contract will be based on a fair daily rate to be determined by the artist and the organization.
The Project Manager will work with potential instructors and staff to develop individual lessons. Once instructors have been selected, the Project Manager will work with the instructors and media artist/videographer to determine a schedule for filming, factoring in the appropriate preparatory time required. This includes material preparation as well as lesson-planning. Videography and editing will be held in the instructor’s studio whenever possible. In instances where an alternate studio is required the space must be reserved. Each lesson will require an estimated half a day of filming and two days of editing. Once the final product is complete the Project Manager will upload the lessons onto the online teaching platform and courses will be promoted widely.
Once the course has started, the Project Manager and instructors will need to be available during each lesson for a question-and-answer period through the platform’s chat function, allowing students to have live interactions with their instructor. The Project manager will monitor and moderate these interactions when needed. Approximately four weeks after the course has been completed the Project Manager and instructors will participate in a live video question-and-answer period to discuss the outcomes of students’ work and to answer any further questions regarding techniques learned. Once this final segment of the course is complete students and instructors will be
asked to provide feedback, which will be taken into thoughtful consideration for future courses.
Craft Nova Scotia intends to reach an audience of late emerging to mid-career craftspeople seeking further education in advanced craft techniques. Craft Nova Scotia and the Centre for Craft Nova Scotia maintains a regional, national, and international mailing list which receives a weekly online news-bulletin, as well as a quarterly print newsletter for members and institutions. Information regarding paid opportunities and online course information/registration will be circulated by these organizations. Additionally, the online course information and links to registration will be sent to the other provincial and regional Craft Councils and the Canadian Craft Federation for further promotion.
Information and links to registration will also be available on the Craft Nova Scotia and Centre for Craft websites and will be shared through the organizations’ social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), encouraging other art and craft organizations to share widely on social media. The Project Manager will coordinate the overall promotion of the online courses, in collaboration with the Craft Nova Scotia team, to help increase the discoverability of Nova Scotian artistic content.
Craft Nova Scotia has committed to the federal government of Canada’s 50/30 Challenge which encourages organizations to achieve gender parity in leadership roles and a minimum of 30% from underrepresented communities and is extending this commitment to all paid projects. The organization will ensure an equal gender balance among instructors. Furthermore, the organization will ensure that a minimum of one of the four multi-part courses be reserved for a local Indigenous (Mi’kmaq) instructor. Craft Nova Scotia will also ensure a broad diversity of traditional craft media (clay, metal, wood, fibre, leather, and stone) and encourages instructors living with visible or invisible disabilities.
This project and the organization will also respect the geographic diversity of the province and is cognizant of the limitations that current in-person classes pose on having such a diversity due to travel distance. Creating and disseminating online courses will help the organization overcome the geographic barrier currently faced in Nova Scotia by removing the Halifax-centric model under which it currently operates. This will ensure not only a greater diversity in course material but will allow Craft Nova Scotia to support artists throughout the province with paid opportunities. The organization will also put significant effort into identifying a diversity of instructors by recognizing that age is not the deciding factor in mastery of craft techniques. It will ensure that although artists with an educational background will be sought, this can be expressed in both institutional or private instruction, eliminating the barrier of formal education and institutional employment.
SCOPE OF PROJECT ACTIVITY
- Research- online learning platforms and leading practices, conduct an environmental scan of the current market and existing offerings and identify a recommended approach.
- Develop a detailed project plan and timeline for development, implementation and evaluation.
- Develop a detailed budget and business plan for the overall project using an iterative model, to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the project.
- To create an engaging learning program that is inclusive and representative of Nova Scotia’s craft community to
inspire and challenge participants in their practice and careers.
- Coordinate and negotiate any licenses/ permissions for software, and contracts with contractors and/or instructors.
- Work closely with the Craft Nova Scotia Team to insure alignment with existing systems.
- To develop and marketing and communications plan in consultation with the Craft Nova Scotia team.
- To develop an evaluation system for the program to enable ongoing improvement and enhancement of the
program.
- To prepare a final report including recommendations and opportunities for improvement and growth of the program to serve the craft community going forward.
Process & Methodology
Please prepare an outline of your approach to the project, including a brief description of your process and methodology.
DELIVERABLES AND TIMETABLE
Key Deliverables
To develop a detailed iterative model for an ongoing Digital Learning Program focused on supporting and developing intermediate/advanced craftspeople and artists, including opportunities for participating live and through pre-recorded course offerings.
To create and produce a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) professionally pre-recorded courses, of varying lengths; and a minimum of three (3) live lectures/webinars.
To identify, select and secure an online learning platform that enhances learning opportunities, is compatible with existing systems within the organization.
Prepare a final report of the results of the experiment/ project, including a summary of findings, learnings, and recommendations on format and structure for a Digital Learning Program going forward.
Timelines – these are key milestones for the project.
June 2022 Initiate the project, engage the Project Manager
Conduct research
Develop a detailed project plan, timeline Develop a detailed business plan and budget
Develop and initiate marketing and communications plan Develop and confirm Programming Plan and potential instructors Engage videographers/ media artists and other support staff Develop filming plan and schedule
Preproduction work Conduct filming Postproduction Conduct testing
June/July 2023 Launch Program & Registrations
Conduct evaluations
November/
December 2023 Prepare and present Final Report
QUALIFICATIONS
The Contractor/Consultant(s) should demonstrate strong project management experience and a robust knowledge of digital learning platforms.
Experience in a variety of creative and innovative learning practices and teaching techniques. Knowledge and experience in the arts and culture sector and creative industries, and awareness of current and emerging trends is also important to ensure the success of the project.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION/ BUDGET
A detailed proposal including cost breakdowns for consulting/ project management services is required. The cost of travel, meetings, and related expenses will be covered by Craft Nova Scotia and will be billed and covered at cost.
Craft Nova Scotia will supply limited administrative support, in organizing meetings and assistance with location arrangements, payments etc.
Due to current and anticipate public health protocols as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, it is expected that the consultant/ project manager will utilize a variety of creative and innovative engagement and facilitation techniques, and include a blend of virtual and in-person sessions, respecting the public health protocols at the time.
Given the provincial nature of the organization, there is a separate budget to assist with travel for the engagement sessions. This project is capped at a maximum of $17,000. CAD for consulting/ Project Management services. The total project budget is $135,000 inclusive of the project management fee and related administrative expenses.
The contract will be managed on a day to day basis by Craft Nova Scotia, represented by the Executive Director.
Payment will be made in quarterly installments with the 1st installment to be issued upon the signing of the contract and the final installment following the presentation of the final report. The remaining two installments will be issued at 2 key milestone marks mutually agreeable to the Project Manager and Craft Nova Scotia.
The proposals will be reviewed by a Sub Committee of Craft Nova Scotia. The following criteria are considered mandatory and will be used to evaluate proposals and proposals that do not address each of these criteria will not be considered eligible.
Understanding the project requirements 20 points
Understanding and experience in e-learning and digital platforms, and production practices. (citing relevant experience)
25 points
Demonstrated expertise and knowledge in Project Management, time management and organizational skills 25 points
Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the art and cultural sector and
knowledge and understanding of creative industries. 20 points
Capacity for delivery within schedule and value for costs 10 points
Please include references. References will be checked for proposals under consideration. Proposals must meet a minimum standard of quality against the above criteria. Should no suitable proposals be received, we reserve the right to cancel this call for proposals. The lowest consultant’s proposal bid will not necessarily be accepted.
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Evaluation of proposals is made easier when the proponents respond in a similar manner. The following format and sequence should be followed in order to provide consistency in response and to ensure each proposal receives full consideration. All pages should be consecutively numbered.
- Title page, showing name, address, telephone number and a contact person
- One page letter of introduction identifying the consultant(s) and signed by the person(s) authorized to sign on behalf of, and bind the consultant(s) to the statements made in the proposal
- Table of contents including page numbers
- Body of the proposal, including timeline
- Price breakdown of the proposed budget
- Any additional information
- References
- CV(s) of consultant(s)
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Proposal must be sent via email in a single PDF file containing all pertinent information requested: Careers@craftnovascotia.ca
Subject Heading: Digital Project Manager- Craft Nova Scotia FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kelly Jerrott,
Executive Director
Craft Nova Scotia
902-880-3314 c.
1113 Marginal Road Halifax, N.S.
Proposals must be received at the Craft Nova Scotia office by 11:59pm AST on June 17, 2022.
We gratefully acknowledge the funding support of our funding partners: Canada Council for the Arts
Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage
