Animate Projects seeks a historian to work with us on WORK Records, an ambitious, community focused and engaged project, exploring, and developing resources in response to, three heritage collections across the East Midlands, and a public engagement programme.
Location: Remote working, with travel across the East Midlands
Contract: Freelance, approximately 25 days over May 2025 – November 2026
Fee: £5,000 plus travel and accommodation expenses
Please follow this link for more background on Animate, WORK Records and our partners.
Brief
Animate Projects is working with five Midlands organisations to deliver WORK Records, an ambitious and innovative 18 month programme exploring historic working lives, through an ‘investigation’ of the holdings of three heritage organisations, production of three documentary animations, and a public engagement programme of events and online activities and resource.
The Project Historian will support the work of three ‘investigative teams’ – joining curators, existing and former workers, and artist facilitators to explore East Midlands heritage collections, identifying records and objects, and seeing where they lead us, and to who, and what stories they can tell, about working lives.
They will also be a member of the overall Project Community, sharing their knowledge and experience, joining conversations, and contributing to the development and delivery of the public engagement programme.
Person specification
- A passion for social history.
- Has undertaken historical research relevant to the project.
- Degree or Higher Degree in History or other relevant subject.
- Has a proven track record of undertaking roles in heritage and public engagement
- Can demonstrate an understanding of heritage and arts projects that engage the public as participants and audience
- Experience of writing about social history
- Experience online content creation for social media and websites
- Experience of working with a range of partners and stakeholders.
- Able to work to tight deadlines
- Able to work remotely, including access to reliable WIFI for regular online meetings
- Confident in working with Microsoft Office software, Google Sheets, email, and online file management systems
- A commitment to access and inclusion.
Key tasks/Responsibilities
You will:
- Contribute to the development and delivery of WORK Records.
- Participate in and contribute to the WORK Records project community – meet ups, public events, thoughts, ideas, etc.
- Support the work of the investigative teams, joining meetings online and in person, providing advice and guidance, in collaboration with the WORK Records Project Manager, Artist Facilitators, and in collaboration with the WORK Records Heritage and Engagement partners.
- Provide advice and guidance on the animated films, to ensure appropriate representation of the heritage.
- Contribute to the development of the public engagement programme.
- Take part in online and in person activities as part of the engagement programme.
- Contribute to the development, including writing for, the publication and online resource.
- Ensure all work is delivered in line with Animate’s policies and procedures, including Environmental Sustainability and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
How to apply
Please send us the following:
- Your CV (maximum two pages)
- A cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your previous relevant experience and suitability, why you are keen to join us and would like to take on this role.
- Name, job title, and contact email for two referees, to be contacted if we offer you the role
Send these as PDF attachments to: workrecords@animateprojects.org
with “Project Historian” as the subject line of your email, by noon, Friday 11 April 2025
If you would prefer to record a 2-3 minute video or voice memo rather than send a cover letter, please send a link to the video on Google Drive or Vimeo or another platform.
If we wish to invite you for a brief interview on Zoom, we will email you by 23 April.
Deadline: noon, Friday 11 April 2025
Interviews: 29 April 2025
If you have any questions or if you require the job description in an alternative form, please email Gary Thomas at: workrecords@animateprojects.org
We welcome applications from individuals from a group that is under-represented in the arts and creative industries, because we are committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce. This includes, but is not limited to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, disabled people, those undergoing gender reassignment/ transitioning and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
We ask all applicants to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. We will send a link to this upon receipt of your application. The form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application.
If you have any access needs, or barriers to access that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to let us know either before applying or as part of your application.
We will notify all candidates who have not been short-listed for interview, but we are unable to offer detailed feedback.
The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate that they have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
Animate Projects is an Art Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
WORK Records is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Thanks to National Lottery players. Supported by Arts Council England.
