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ECC049 - Words and Worlds (Artist in Residence)

Middlesbrough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

10 Sep 2026 at 10:10

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Middlesbrough Council commissioned the Words and Worlds Artist in Residence service, a community cultural programme combining creative writing facilitation, oral storytelling, community engagement, editorial development, anthology production and a participant celebration event. The work is intended to amplify voices underrepresented in mainstream cultural activity, including people with limited confidence in creative writing, complex relationships with formal education, varying literacy levels, multiple languages, or experience of social exclusion and marginalisation. Delivery is in Middlesbrough. The service requires facilitators able to create safe, inclusive and accessible environments while protecting participants’ authentic voices and helping them retain ownership of their stories in the final publication and showcase. It is classified as cultural, community, social and personal services.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. Middlesbrough Council used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, for a single lot. Mustard Stories Arts CIC was selected as supplier. The contract was signed on 12 August 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 May 2027. Its value is £29,030 excluding VAT, or £34,836 including VAT. The council’s stated basis for using a direct award was that the supplier’s established Words and Worlds methodology, workshop structure, editorial process, anthology production and celebration-event format had been refined through successful iterations. Replacing it would require significant redevelopment and could risk the project’s authenticity and impact.

This award indicates demand from Middlesbrough Council for specialist cultural delivery that combines creative practice with community engagement and publishing. Suppliers seeking comparable work would need experienced creative-writing and oral-storytelling facilitators, strong workshop design and the ability to support participants with different literacy levels, languages, educational experiences and confidence. Credibility would also depend on delivering genuinely safe, inclusive and accessible environments, particularly for people affected by social exclusion or marginalisation. Relevant capability extends beyond facilitation: providers need editorial development, anthology production and the organisation of a public celebration or showcase. The procurement also shows the importance of a tested, distinctive methodology, evidence of successful delivery and an approach that preserves participants’ authentic voices and ownership of their stories.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ECC049 - Words and Worlds (Artist in Residence)

Notice Description

Works & Worlds is a bespoke methodology developed and delivered by the awarded supplier. The project model, workshop structure, editorial process, anthology production approach and celebration event format has been refined through multiple successful iterations. The project's success is directly linked to this established approach, which combines creative writing facilitation, oral storytelling, community engagement, editorial development, publishing and participant celebration in a distinctive format. Replicating this model through another provider would require significant investment, and redevelopment. Not only would this be costly, but it would risk losing the authenticity and impact that have become synonymous with the awarded supplier. The primary aim of the project is to amplify voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream cultural activity and will seek to work with individuals who: * Have limited confidence in creative writing * Have complex relationships with formal education * Have varying literacy levels * May speak multiple languages * Have experienced social exclusion or marginalisation. Delivery requires skilled and experienced facilitators, who can create safe, inclusive and accessible environments. The project's ethos preserves participants' authentic voices, ensuring contributors feel ownership of their stories and represented within the final publication/showcase.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f65a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085690-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£29,030 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 1 May 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Middlesbrough Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MIDDLESBROUGH
Postcode
TS1 9FT
Postcode Area
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC32 South Teesside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Middlesbrough
Electoral Ward
Newport
Westminster Constituency
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MUSTARD STORIES ARTS CIC

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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