Borderlands External Evaluation Contract

Borderlands is a Creative People and Places programme working across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.

Our programme aims to develop meaningful, equitable and community-led relationships, build confidence and agency, and support stronger habits of creativity and participation. Over time, we want to contribute to more confident, cohesive and active communities, a stronger creative ecology, and creative leaders rooted in their communities.

Community leadership, partnership working and the development of lasting relationships are central to our approach. Our Community Steering Group will play an important role in shaping creative priorities and informing programme development.

As we move into our next phase, we’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively with our team, partners and Community Steering Group to explore what we’re achieving, what we’re learning and how we can continue to improve.

We’re interested in understanding the difference creativity makes to individuals, communities, artists and the wider cultural landscape. We want evaluation to be more than numbers and reports. It should help us tell meaningful stories, celebrate successes, understand challenges and shape what happens next.

The successful evaluator will:

– Review and develop our existing monitoring and evaluation approach.
– Gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative evidence.
– Work with communities, artists, partners and participants to understand the impact of our work.
– Develop case studies that bring the programme’s stories and experiences to life.
– Support ongoing learning and reflection throughout the programme.
– Produce annual evaluation reports and a final report in Spring 2029.

Expected work pattern: c. 2 days per month for the durtion of the contract, or approx 60 days in total. A work day is 7.4 hours.