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The Take Note methodology, in development since early 2019, is rooted in a combination of on-the-ground partnership experience and rigorous research. It is designed to be responsive and flexible to meet changing sector needs, especially in these new uncertain times.

Take Note was born from first hand understanding of the extraordinary impact and artistic possibility of collaboration as well as the real and significant challenges that arise when working with others.  The methodology is developed and delivered by Co-Directors Marianna Hay and Emily Webb, based on their fifteen years of experience leading small arts organisations and delivering cross sector collaborative arts for social impact projects. ft’work has been deeply involved in the conception and development of Take Note from the start, and Take Note and ft’work share the foundational belief in achieving collective change through collaboration and community action.

Take Note began its first Connect programme, fully funded by ft’work, in Lowestoft Suffolk in October 2019. The arts partnership project they are supporting unites three social-change organisations to create a dynamic, participatory community artwork as part of the seminal Lowestoft First Light Festival. This project had to be postponed due to coronavirus, and in the meantime Take Note developed and delivered their Take Away strategic coronavirus-response support package online with arts organisations across the country. Take Note recently succeeded in securing a milestone grant from one of the UK’s largest funders, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, to support an arts partnership project working with communities with low access to the arts in Gloucester.

By the end of five years, Take Note will have designed, tested and evaluated a rigorous methodology for partnership working that will have been embedded and adapted by their partner arts organisations and funders, and disseminated by a national network of advocacy partners to sustain effective collaboration for the long term.

what is ftwork doing?

ftwork provided the seed funding for the development of the Take Note concept. ftwork is now working in collaboration with Take Note to provide strategic support and funding to enable Take Note’s core work and to fully fund their first Connect programme in Lowestoft.

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