Overview

This Standard is about developing and delivering learning and interpretation events. This is primarily for creative or cultural organisations but could be used by any organisation that prepares exhibitions or displays. Events may be single or multiple events. They may include, but are not restricted to, exhibitions, displays, performances, outreach activities and use of multi-media systems or print materials. Events may be accessed in situ or online. Event participants may be referred to as audiences, visitors or customers.

It includes involve working with a wide range of colleagues and external subject specialists to produce an exciting and inspirational event or programme of events making full use of resources.

It includes evaluating previous events, agreeing themes, learning objectives and interpretative approaches, developing event plans, selecting locations, project management, contingency planning and ongoing evaluation of events.

This standard is for anyone working in interpretation and learning in a creative or cultural organisation using an event or programme of events to engage audiences, visitors or customers.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. evaluate relevant information about the success of previous events from within and outside of the organisation
  2. identify target audience, themes, learning objectives and aims of events that comply with organisational strategies for audience development and interpretation and learning
  3. consult relevant people about suitable interpretative approaches and formats for events
  4. produce an accurate estimate of budget, people, timescale and other resources required for the development and delivery of events
  5. develop event plans containing clearly presented material at the required level of detail in line with organisational requirements
  6. ensure planned events are relevant and accurate with a clear relationship to identified themes
  7. ensure learning and interpretation events are inclusive and appropriate to intended audience and all user needs
  8. liaise with relevant people to seek agreement for your plans at all key stages of development and delivery
  9. work with appropriate people to ensure any required marketing is conducted in sufficient time to attract participants
  10. brief specialists, contractors and staff involved with the development and delivery of events with sufficient information for them to carry out their required role
  11. choose locations with sufficient space for learning and interpretation activities and access for set up activities and participants’ during delivery
  12. include objects or sites in events that encourage access and enhance participant’s engagement and understanding of event themes
  13. put in place plans to maintain the security of objects or sites at all times during event set up and delivery
  14. identify and plan realistic contingencies to deal with any unforeseen circumstances
  15. ensure appropriate licensing, contracts and insurance are identified and obtained
  16. make sure all resources are in place when required throughout set up and delivery of events
  17. ensure that high quality customer care is maintained throughout event delivery in line with organisational procedures
  18. ensure that the safety of event participants is maintained in line with relevant legislation and organisational procedures
  19. evaluate events against learning objectives both before, during and after delivery
  20. identify any modifications to ongoing events that will enhance future effectiveness, basing all conclusions and subsequent recommendations on evaluation results

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:                       

  1. how to identify learning objectives and agree them with colleagues
  2. how to obtain information about previous events including accessing organisational and public information and discussion with colleagues
  3. how to identify target audience and their needs
  4. organisational strategies for audience development and interpretation and learning including key themes
  5. different learning styles, and how to cater for these
  6. how to create learning objectives and aims
  7. types of interpretative approach and their benefits and disadvantages and who to consult about them
  8. methods to enhance audiences understanding and enjoyment including interesting ways to present information and mechanisms to encourage audience participation
  9. the potential problems encountered by visitors with mobility, hearing, sight impairment, autism spectrum disorder or specific learning difficulties
  10. the different strategies available to enable access to learning and interpretation events for visitors with special needs
  11. how to plan an event and produce an event plan
  12. project planning and management skills including budgeting and scheduling
  13. how to identify the skills needed for event development and delivery and the information needed by others involved
  14. legislation and organisational objectives in relation to access
  15. how to adapt events so they are inclusive
  16. how to select objects or sites and information to include
  17. the arrangements for access to objects and areas of your building
  18. what is included in contingency planning and how to do it
  19. how to write a risk assessment
  20. security arrangements for objects, sites and event participants
  21. who to work with on marketing and lead times for your event and target audience
  22. how to ensure licensing, insurance and contracts are in place for the event or programme in your organisation
  23. organisational customer care procedures
  24. information to include in an evaluation and how to collect and analyse it