Interpretive Plan Development and Fit-Out: Plas Gunter Mansion

The Trust wishes to appoint an experienced consultant team who can deliver an Interpretive Plan for a delivery stage application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The presumption is that the interpretive design team will continue to work on the delivery phase of the project, following a delivery phase application to the Heritage Fund. This would be subject to a break clause should funds not be secured or if the client is unhappy with the standard of the work.The team will need to include interpretive designers with experience of working in historic buildings, of providing signage and orientation and of displaying a range of collections in appropriate environmental conditions. The team must understand the imperatives of audience development and activity planning and be experienced in team-working with other disciplines. The interpretive proposals must meet the needs of developing audiences and provide an infrastructure for volunteer activity and community projects.The consultant team must have experience of National Lottery Heritage Funding funded project development and have a clear understanding of the Heritage Fund’s priorities. They must be able to demonstrate their experience of delivering interpretive exhibitions in a range of historic places and museums.An outline Interpretation Plan was created and included within the first-round application which includes proposals for the development of digital content. We are seeking to commission a consultancy with access to digital specialists who will take a creative and flexible approach in order to deliver effective, impactful and sustainable interpretation and digital content which will complement the activity programme and have the potential to achieve Heritage Fund outcomes.The objectives of the Interpretive Plan are:- To identify target audiences, carry out consultation around key stories, themes and interests and needs of audiences about interpretive media and develop strategies for overcoming barriers to access.- To develop a thematic framework for a new exhibition including a succinct summary of the stories and themes.- To provide creative proposals that will make the heritage more accessible to a wide range of audiences.- To create a robust and serviceable interpretive fit-out which is appealing to target audiences with layers of information, which promotes repeat visits and which provides opportunities for activities and volunteering.- To create proposals for permanent and changing displays to include showcases, graphics, interactive exhibits and digital content.- To consider future maintenance, updating and refurbishments in the interpretive planning process.- Design signage and orientation to make the whole site visible, physically accessible and easy to understand.- Develop digital media to connect the built interpretation to the wider site and promote exploration.- To create a fully costed plan that meets Heritage Fund guidelines on audience development, activity planning and interpretive design. Consultants will need to work closely with the Architect to ensure a fully cohesive approach to the interpretation and space.The critical tasks in this brief will be:1. Assess and review work undertaken for the development phase bid.2. Undertake additional audience research including working with the Project Team to test the success and feasibility of interpretation proposed in the Outline Interpretive Plan.3. Become familiar with the heritage of the building and the stories connected to it.4. Research and work with volunteers to understand heritage and opportunities for interpretation.5. Work with the Activity Planning consultants to confirm priority audiences for the project to target.6. Further develop interpretive proposals for the site and review ideas with the Project Team and stakeholders.7. Produce perspective visuals or models to illustrate approaches to the provision of permanent and temporary exhibitions.8. Produce colour, finishes and installation proposals for discussion and approval.9. Review outline plans and visuals with potential user groups to provide formative evaluation.10. Develop detailed visualisations of the interpretive proposal, using running elevations and outline specifications for showcases, mechanical interactives and interactive access to digitized material, film presentations and all other exhibits.11. Produce a detailed report on the findings of the consultation and audience research to feed into the Activity Plan.12. Support the client team to produce detailed costs for activities within the Activity Plan alongside a comprehensive Action Plan13. Produce a draft report, visuals and costs for mid-term review meeting with the Heritage Fund.14. Produce Interpretive Plan for Delivery Phase application to the Heritage Fund.Delivery PhaseIn the event of a successful second round application, the appointed consultant will be expected to develop the Interpretation Plan beyond RIBA Stage 3 and manage and oversee the delivery of the interpretation and digital content to completion, on a design and build basis.This role will be part of the Project Team which will comprise key volunteers, trustees and other consultants. The consultant will have full access to the whole project team and any information gathered in preparation for our various applications. Specifically, they will need to work closely with our Architect, Activities & Audience Development Consultant, Fundraiser and Business Planning Consultant, so that all aspects of the project and its future are fully integrated.