Community Arts Management Programme -
Information for Applicants
Course Structure
The course runs over three days a week,
from 10am – 3pm, with this basic
structure:
Weds - ECDL Level one,
Thurs - NVQ & specialist
tuition
Friday - Specialist tuition &
Placement
Stage 1 takes place in the first six
weeks of the programme, and introduces
the basics of participatory arts and
project management. Students who
successfully pass this stage progress
to Stage 2, when placements are
allocated, projects begin and portfolio
building takes place.
NVQ Level 4 in Management
This qualification is recognised by
employers as qualifying people to
become professional managers. We teach
this within a community arts context,
which will enable you to understand how
to plan, manage and deliver quality
arts projects in a community setting.
Students demonstrate their competence
by gathering evidence of their
competence in a portfolio. This is
then assessed on an ongoing basis.
The qualification is gained by
successfully completing nine units in a
23 week period. This makes it quite a
demanding and intensive course,
requiring a high level of motivation
and self-discipline. We therefore ask
that you make a positive commitment to
achieving the qualification right from
the start.
Placements
CAMP is unique in that we arrange
placements in community and/or arts
organisations for all the students.
The placements are usually for one day
a week, for fourteen weeks. While on
placement, students will be expected to
work in small teams to deliver a “live”
participatory arts project, from start
to finish, using the project management
processes they are taught on the NVQ.
This is usually a very rich experience,
enabling, as it does, evidence to be
gathered for your NVQ portfolios. It
is also a valuable learning experience
of the culture and practicalities of
working in the arts in the run-up to
the Capital of Culture year.
Placements are a wonderful opportunity
to prove what you can do, to make
contacts that may assist you in your
career, and greatly enhance your future
employment prospects. Previous
placements have included Mzone,
(delivering Summer Music Week), the
Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art,
(delivering Moving Images of
Merseyside), the Bluecoat Arts Centre
Connect Programme, and South Liverpool
Housing, amongst others.
CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance
Because all our placements take place
in a “live” community context, and
often entail working with children
and/or vulnerable people, all our
students are required to undergo CRB
clearance. We apply for this on your
behalf, and at no charge to yourself,
in the first six weeks of the
programme. If you have any concerns
about this process, please talk to us
as soon as possible.
Entry Requirements
NVQ Level 4 is a higher-level
qualification, equivalent to the first
year of study on a degree course.
Students are therefore required to have
some record of academic achievement
before they begin the course, usually
at ‘A’ Level or equivalent standard, as
well as the literacy level that is
required for the NVQ. In addition, as
we do not teach the vocational
(creative) side, students are expected
to have a relevant level of expertise
in a chosen area, demonstrable thru
qualification or experience. Community
work experience is also taken into
account.
Because the course is both exciting and
challenging, we also look for students
who demonstrate reliability, good
communication skills, who are open to
learning new things, and have a
commitment to succeed.
Attendance & punctuality
The course is run over three days a
week for 23 weeks. Attendance is
required on all three days and for the
entire period. This is a substantial
commitment to make and we therefore
encourage you to assess realistically
whether you are able and willing to
make this level of commitment. We have
a strict policy in this area, and,
while we accept that health, family
sickness and bereavement are valid
reasons for authorised absence, we ask
that you are honest with us in making
your circumstances known.
The course is demanding and intense,
and you are unlikely to succeed if your
attendance or punctuality is poor.
Attendance and punctuality are
monitored throughout the course, and is
also specifically assessed in the first
six weeks of Phase 1. In this period,
if attendance and punctuality is less
than 90%, your place may be withdrawn
and given to someone else. Students
whose attendance falls below 80% over
the duration are automatically
withdrawn from the course.
Travel & Childcare
LCAD recognises that childcare
commitments can be a barrier towards
participating on this course, and
therefore pays a childcare allowance
where applicable. In addition, all
students receive travel expenses, which
are linked to punctuality and
attendance.
