{"id":607,"date":"2018-06-05T10:40:51","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T09:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/?p=607"},"modified":"2018-05-23T10:22:54","modified_gmt":"2018-05-23T09:22:54","slug":"a-vital-partnership-seven-stories-and-newcastle-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/a-vital-partnership-seven-stories-and-newcastle-university\/","title":{"rendered":"A vital partnership: Seven Stories and Newcastle University"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In this blog post, I\u2019m reflecting on the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/\">Vital North Partnership\u2019s<\/a> work from 2015 to 2018, supported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artscouncil.org.uk\/\">Arts Council England\u2019s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artscouncil.org.uk\/funding\/museum-resilience-fund\">Museum Resilience Fund.<\/a> Through the programme, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sevenstories.org.uk\/\">Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children&#8217;s Books<\/a> have strengthened their leadership role as Britain\u2019s home of children\u2019s literature. Funding allowed them to invest in their strategic collaboration with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/\">Newcastle University,<\/a> and supported business planning and income diversification.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children\u2019s Books and Newcastle University share the ambition that Newcastle becomes a centre for excellence in children\u2019s literature \u2013 for collections, research, learning, engagement and professional practice.<\/p>\n<p>From 2015 \u2013 2018, Seven Stories and Newcastle University worked together on the Vital North Partnership, a strategic development programme funded by Arts Council England\u2019s Museum Resilience Fund. This aimed to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Enhance and scale up their collaborative partnership<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Increase Seven Stories\u2019 financial resilience and diversify income<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Support Seven Stories\u2019 long-term business planning<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Arts Council England funding, matched by Newcastle University, supported the employment of a Partnership Manager (me!) to lead the collaboration, and provided a project budget.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_508\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-508\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-508\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/12\/IMG_8768-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Students from Newcastle University's BA in English Literature visiting Seven Stories. Image: Newcastle University\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/12\/IMG_8768-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/12\/IMG_8768-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/12\/IMG_8768-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/12\/IMG_8768-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-508\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students from Newcastle University&#8217;s BA in English Literature visiting Seven Stories. Image: Newcastle University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>Developing a museum \/ university partnership<\/h5>\n<p>The Vital North Partnership has strengthened and significantly developed Seven Stories\u2019 collaboration with Newcastle University, through activities including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collaborating on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/the-seven-stories-knowledge-transfer-partnership\/\">the UK\u2019s first English Literature Knowledge Transfer Partnership,<\/a><\/strong> supported by <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrc.ukri.org\/\">AHRC<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/innovate-uk\">InnovateUK.<\/a> This embedded a research function into<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sevenstories.org.uk\/collection\"> Seven Stories\u2019 Collections<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sevenstories.org.uk\/exhibitions\">Exhibitions<\/a> Team and informed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sevenstories.org.uk\/_assets\/media\/editor\/archive\/Touring\/Morpurgo.pdf\"><em>Michael Morpurgo: A Lifetime in Stories<\/em> exhibition.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Being recognised as the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/newcastle-university-and-seven-stories-win-prestigious-thelma-award\/\"><strong>Knowledge Exchange \/ Transfer Initiative of the Year<\/strong><\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelmawards.co.uk\/2018\/en\/page\/home\">Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2017.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Securing <strong>three fully-funded PhDs<\/strong> looking at Seven Stories&#8217; collections and spaces, supported by Newcastle University, the AHRC and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/autumn-statement-2016-documents\/autumn-statement-2016\">National Productivity Investment Fund.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Seven Stories engaged with <strong>9 undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules<\/strong> at Newcastle University, from <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/littlefolk\/\">Music<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/geography-gender-and-generation-at-seven-stories\/\">Geography,<\/a> providing learning and skills development opportunities.<\/li>\n<li>Seven Stories hosted <strong>20 Newcastle University student internships, <\/strong>from <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/mastering-museums-at-seven-stories-museum-gallery-and-heritage-ma-placements\/\">museums studies<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/filming-seven-stories-life-changing-stories-campaign\/\">film production,<\/a> helping young people to experience cultural and creative careers.<\/li>\n<li>Delivering <strong>33 joint public events,<\/strong> from <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/fantasy-worlds-with-frances-hardinge\/\">expert talks at Newcastle University<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/exploring-marine-sciences-at-seven-stories\/\">activities for early years in Seven Stories\u2019 Studio.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_235\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-235\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-235\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/03\/IMG_8406_edited-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Frances Hardiinge and Aishwarya Subramanian. Image: Newcastle University\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/03\/IMG_8406_edited-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/03\/IMG_8406_edited-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/03\/IMG_8406_edited-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/03\/IMG_8406_edited-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-235\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frances Hardinge and Aishwarya Subramanian in conversation at the &#8216;Fantasy Worlds with Frances Hardinge&#8217; event.. Image: Newcastle University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>Increasing Seven Stories\u2019 financial resilience<\/h5>\n<p>Arts Council England\u2019s funding supported Seven Stories\u2019 financial resilience by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enabling Seven Stories to invest in <strong>marketing activity and branding development <\/strong>to understand audiences better and encourage new and repeat visits.<\/li>\n<li>The Vital North Partnership supported <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/filming-seven-stories-life-changing-stories-campaign\/\"><strong>Seven Stories\u2019 first crowdfunding campaign, <\/strong><\/a>which will enhance their work with families with additional sensory needs.<\/li>\n<li>Through collaborative activity with Newcastle University, Seven Stories were able to <strong>access higher education-related funding and support,<\/strong> from funders such as <a href=\"https:\/\/epsrc.ukri.org\/\">EPSRC,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leverhulme.ac.uk\/\">The Leverhulme Trust,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/programmes\/horizon2020\/\">Horizon 2020<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/regional_policy\/en\/funding\/erdf\/\">ERDF.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_94\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-94\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-94\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2016\/10\/IMG20161009154129-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A bird's-eye view of Newcastle Gateshead in 2065. Image: Newcastle University\" width=\"840\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2016\/10\/IMG20161009154129-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2016\/10\/IMG20161009154129-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2016\/10\/IMG20161009154129-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2016\/10\/IMG20161009154129-1200x900.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-94\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bird&#8217;s-eye view of Newcastle Gateshead in 2065, created by Seven Stories&#8217; visitors. Image: Newcastle University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>A sustainable future for Seven Stories<\/h5>\n<p>Through the Vital North Partnership\u2019s work, Seven Stories invested in their infrastructure and explored how their collaboration with Newcastle University could inform a long-term business strategy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seven Stories invested in <strong>additional collections storage,<\/strong> enabling additional collection acquisitions during 2015 \u2013 2018.<\/li>\n<li>Working with Newcastle University Library, Seven Stories explored <strong>collaboratively acquiring and providing access to collections.<\/strong> This included working on <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/a-fairy-tale-special-collections-and-seven-stories-outreach-project\/\">joint outreach projects with 8 local schools,<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/brian-alderson-donates-rare-childrens-book-collection\/\">jointly acquiring the largest private children\u2019s literature collection in the UK.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>As part of the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.newcastlecityfutures.org\/\"> Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/building-a-new-city-with-newcastle-city-futures\/\">Seven Stories&#8217; visitors explored the future of the city,<\/a> informing a new architectural project on <strong>reimagining children\u2019s spaces.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Developing a detailed options appraisal for <strong>Seven Stories\u2019 future infrastructure,<\/strong> and securing funding through the Higher Education Innovation Fund to explore models for the long-term future of the collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_403\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-403\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-403\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/07\/cropped-image-1024x568.jpg\" alt=\"Students with their fairytales!\" width=\"840\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/07\/cropped-image-1024x568.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/07\/cropped-image-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/07\/cropped-image-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/files\/2017\/07\/cropped-image-1200x665.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-403\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pupils with fairytale books created as part of an outreach project led by the University Library with Seven Stories and the Hatton Gallery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Through the project, Seven Stories\u2019 work became embedded within Newcastle University\u2019s structures, and enhanced their financial resilience.<\/p>\n<p>For Newcastle University, new research collaborations were developed, wider audiences accessed academic research, and the Partnership provided unique opportunities for teaching and learning.<\/p>\n<p>The partnership between the two organisations has been recognised by Arts Council England through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artscouncil.org.uk\/NPO\">2018 \u2013 22 National Portfolio scheme,<\/a> and with match funding from Newcastle University, we are looking forward to an ambitious programme over the next four years. And for more information on that \u2013 watch this space!<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information about the Vital North Partnership and its activity, visit <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/\"><em>https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this blog post, I\u2019m reflecting on the Vital North Partnership\u2019s work from 2015 to 2018, supported by Arts Council England\u2019s Museum Resilience Fund. Through the programme, Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children&#8217;s Books have strengthened their leadership role as Britain\u2019s home of children\u2019s literature. Funding allowed them to invest in their strategic collaboration &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/a-vital-partnership-seven-stories-and-newcastle-university\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;A vital partnership: Seven Stories and Newcastle University&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6222,"featured_media":527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[46,41,49,16,45,6,10,12,4,14,7,34,17,15,23,8],"class_list":["post-607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-arts","tag-awards","tag-childrens-literature","tag-collections","tag-culture","tag-events","tag-exhibitions","tag-ktp","tag-partnership","tag-public-engagement","tag-research","tag-schools","tag-seven-stories","tag-student-placements","tag-studentships","tag-teaching"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":610,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607\/revisions\/610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/vitalnorth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}