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Project Facilitator

Arts Centre Washington is seeking a dynamic and creative Project Facilitator to lead an exciting new community arts project titled “Our Freedom: Then and Now”. This project will explore the evolving concept of freedom, drawing inspiration from Simon Armitage’s poem “Freedom Road”, and will culminate in a multimedia performance and exhibition.

 

About the Role:
The facilitator will work closely with Arts Centre Washington’s regular community groups, engaging participants in creative workshops and discussions to explore personal and collective interpretations of freedom—past and present. The facilitator will help uncover themes and ideas that will shape the final artistic outcomes.  The facilitator will have the support of arts centre staff and other freelance artists when developing ideas for the project.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Liaise with existing groups at Arts Centre Washington to build trust and engagement.
  • Facilitate creative sessions that explore the themes of freedom through various art forms.
  • Draw inspiration from “Freedom Road” by Simon Armitage to guide discussions and creative outputs.
  • Collaborate with other artists and participants to develop content for a multimedia performance / exhibition.
  • Document the process and contribute to the evaluation of the project.

We are Looking For:

  • An experienced facilitator with a background in the arts and community engagement.
  • Someone with a passion for storytelling, social themes, and participatory arts.
  • Excellent communication and organisational skills.
  • Experience working with diverse groups and ages.
  • Knowledge of or interest in theatre, music, poetry and multimedia arts.
  • Someone with a current DBS and PLI

Timeline – we would require you to be available for the following:

July 2025 – meeting Arts Centre Washington regular groups – getting feedback on poem and ideas for the project, establish community steering group for the project – Exact dates and times to be agreed.

July – September 2025 – Facilitate / support summer workshops to develop content for performance. Exact dates and times to be agreed.

October – November 2025 – Development of performance ideas. Exact dates and times to be agreed.

Thursday 13 November 2025 – Rehearsals for performance

Saturday 15 November 2025– Performance

Fee: £250 day / £125 half day
Duration: Approximately 15 days (freelance contract)
Location: Arts Centre Washington, NE38 8AB

How to Apply:

Please send your CV, a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience, and any examples of previous facilitation work to daniel.appleby@sunderlandculture.org.uk by 25 June 2025

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Arts Centre Washington is one of 60 venues taking part in Our Freedom: Then and Now, a new UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative programme which will produce new pieces of work reflecting on what ‘Our Freedom’ means to local people and their communities, following the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day.

Future Arts Centres lead the programme, working with 60 arts centres and libraries, their communities and artists to create special cultural events, exhibitions and performances that are meaningful to people living in these places and across the UK.

The programme is delivered in partnership with Libraries Connected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by UK Government through Arts Council England.