Presented at the event 'Commissioning for Culture and Sport, 5th December 2014': http://knowhownonprofit.org/events/commissioning-for-culture-and-sport-5th-december-2014 Part of the Cultural Commissioning Programme http://www.ncvo.org.uk/cultural-commissioning-programme

1. Six Ways to Wellbeing
Case Study
Kent County Council Arts & Culture Service and Public Health
with strategic investment partners Royal Opera House Bridge
and Artswork

2. The Vision
• Increased capacity and business diversification in the arts and
culture sector
• Increased understanding amongst commissioners and the
culture sector about how arts and culture can deliver positive
social and economic outcomes
• Building strong strategic relationships for future
commissioning opportunities
• Raise profile of ROH and Artswork Bridge organisations
working together with KCC partners to lever investment

3. The Journey so far…
• Arts funding cuts led to need for diversifying business models
– commissioning is a key opportunity
• Public Health looking for innovative ways to engage people
and improve health and wellbeing
• Conversations with Bridges, Public Health and KCC Arts and
Culture Service about shared aims
• November 2012 - ‘commission ready’ support sessions for arts
and cultural sector led by Linden Rowley
• Six Ways to Wellbeing delivery programme, support package,
evaluation of the process and a ‘roadmap’

4. Six Ways to Wellbeing
Research based model developed by New Economics Foundation and SLaM
• Be Active (Body)
• Connect (People)
• Keep Learning (Mind)
• Take Notice (Place)
• Give (Spirit)
• Care (Planet)
www.liveitwell.org.uk/ways-to-wellbeing/six-ways-to-wellbeing

5. The new world of Commissioning

6. Analyse…
What outcomes do we
want to achieve?
Delivery Programme
• Increased wellbeing for
children and young
people - WEMWBS
• Message of Six Ways
spread to wider
communities
• Cultural sector understand
the commissioning process
• Arts Awards
• Involvement of Healthy
Living Centres and
Libraries
Evaluation
• Record the process as its
happening
• Candid feedback from all
stakeholders
• Support successful providers
through the journey
• Capture learning
• Resource to guide cultural
orgs through commissioning
- Roadmap (April 2015)

7. Plan…
Delivery Programme
• Agreed budget, timescales,
responsibilities
• Specification – agreed KPIs,
measurement of outcomes
etc.
• Procurement plan and
approach – what are we able
to do; what will allow sector a
fair chance, but ensure a
transparent process - OJEU
• Market engagement
Evaluation & support
package
• Agreed budget, timescales,
responsibilities
• Brief for recruiting evaluator
and support
• Story of change
• Planning for
‘roadmap’

8. Do…
Delivery Programme
• Opportunity published on the Kent
Business Portal - OJEU
• More market engagement
• Re- tender for remaining three
• Monthly monitoring
• Contract Management
• Regular meetings with
partners
• Risk register
Evaluation & Support
• Agree ‘story of change’ with evaluator
• Manage relationship
• Support this strand of work
• Contract Management
• Regular meetings with partners
• Risk register

9. What did we commission?
• Range of celebratory
community events with arts and
culture activities to promote
Six Ways to Wellbeing
• Story telling
• Crowed-sourced poem
• Drawing workshops
• Sound workshops
• Movement workshops
• Drama workshops
• Dance routines
• Poetry workshops
• Mask making
• Creating a digital 'harp'
• Theatre visits / performances
• Film making
• Creation of
listening/smelling/tasting maps
on Margate beach
Six creative organisations (4 were partnerships of 1 or more)
Activities included:

10. Review…
Throughout whole process
For the commissioner:
• Specification
• Market engagement
• Procurement process
• Assessment criteria
• Interventions
• Outputs vs outcomes
• Contract management
• Is it value for money
For the Providers:
• Outputs vs outcomes
• Interpretation of specification
• Monthly monitoring
• How they deliver social outcomes whilst maintaining artistic mission
• Delivery challenges - timeframe, target numbers, budget
• Reflective – ongoing learning; CPD

11. Key learning so far…
• Not all cultural orgs ready for commissioning
• Not all commissioners understand the value of arts &
culture in delivering outcomes
• Procurement process not entirely fit for purpose
• Shared vision is necessary
• A&C deliver ‘added value’ but is not evaluated
• More response and lead-in time required
• Need for more partnerships in and out of culture sector
• Culture change needed on both sides

12. Ingredients…
• True partnership working
• Shared vision
• Expertise
• Time
• Determination
• Political buy-in

13. The road ahead…
ROADMAP – April 2015
• Continue to work with Public Health and other KCC services to create cultural
commissioning opportunities
• Work with Bridges and Children’s services to develop commissioning
opportunities
• Working with New Economics Foundation as national pilot through Cultural
Commissioning Programme to effect change at policy level and
‘make the case’
• Assess support needs of culture sector going forward
• Create opportunities for arts and cultural orgs to develop relationships with
more traditional providers of social care / VCS
• Focus on evaluating and evidencing ‘soft’ outcomes / added value / impact
measurement
• Promote KCC commissioning opportunities (even if they are not specifically
asking for A&C)

14. We like talking about our work…
• Laura Bailey, Arts & Regeneration Officer, Arts & Culture Service,
Kent County Council: laura.bailey@kent.gov.uk
• Vicky Tovey, Commissioning Manager, Public Health, Kent County Council:
victoria.tovey@kent.gov.uk
• Lucy Medhurst, Strategic Manager, Artswork:
lucymedhurst@artswork.org.uk
• Emma Crook, Programme Manager, Royal Opera House Bridge:
Emma.Crook@roh.org.uk
Thanks for listening – any questions