Diversify
Increasing the accessibility of museum careers to disabled
and deaf people
Bill Kirby Traineeship Description
Title:
Museum Trainee
The Museums Association Bill Kirby Traineeship
aims to increase the number of disabled and deaf
people working in the museum sector.
Duration:
6 months
This is a training opportunity and does not
represent employment.
There will be no offer of a permanent job at the
end of the traineeship.
Training
allowance:
£6,000
Hours per week:
30 (subject to negotiation)
Location
Museum Resource Centre, Colchester
and/or Ipswich Museum
1.0
Background of Traineeship
Disabled and deaf people are under-represented in the museum
and gallery workforce. Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
(CIMS) are acting as the pilot museum for the Bill Kirby
Traineeship, which has been developed by the Museums
Association. Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service is a partner
in the East of England Regional Museum Hub.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to:
 Gain six months training and experience in the museum
supported by a training bursary
 Participate in the planning and/or delivery of a significant
project as part of their training
 Undertake a training programme tailored to their needs, which
will include an introduction to the museum sector and the
development of museum skills
 Receive professional development benefits from the Museums
Association including membership and attendance at its Annual
Conference and seminars
2.0
Potential projects
The Museum Trainee will have the opportunity to train in one
or more of the following areas, depending on their interests:
gallery redisplay, collections care and access, marketing/visitor
research, customer services.
They will also have opportunities to see how all aspects of the
museum service function, including Colchester and Ipswich
Museum Service’s role as a partner in the Renaissance East of
England Museum Hub.
 Gallery Redisplay
Ipswich Museum has planned a redisplay of its Egyptian Gallery
between July 2008 and December 2009. The Egyptian collection
at Ipswich is one of the finest in Britain. The trainee would be
based at Ipswich Museum and would be a member of the project
team. They would work with the Curator of Archaeology, being
involved in object research and supporting the display team in
creating the new display.
 Collections Care and Access
Colchester holds an extensive collection of photographs. Some of
the images have been digitised, with the benefits of both
preserving the original photographs and making the images more
accessible, but further work is required. The project will involve
working with the Documentation Officer to develop an action plan
for digitising the most interesting sections of the collection and
then carrying out that work. It will also involve evaluating the most
user friendly way to host the images on the museum website and
assessing the options for e-retail.
 Marketing/Visitor Research
A Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the redevelopment of Colchester
Castle Museum will take place during the coming year. This
project will involve working with the marketing team to analyse
existing visitor data, conducting visitor research and assisting in
the development and delivery of further research, including the
organisation of focus group sessions.
 Customer Services
Over the last fifteen years the museum service has transformed
the role of Museum Assistants at Colchester so that they are
actively engaged in the delivery of a wide range of visitor
services, from education to retail. The museum service is deeply
committed to providing equality of access and is looking to
develop a training programme to equip Museum Assistants with
the knowledge and skills to ensure that visitors with disabilities
get the best possible service. A key element of this project will
be to work with the Access Officer in the development of the
training programme.
Diversify
Bill Kirby Traineeship Specification
Skills &
Attributes
Sought
Knowledge
Essential
Appreciation of cultural
heritage and museums.
Desirable
None.
Education
Degree or equivalent
experience.
Previous
Experience
Experience of paid or
voluntary work.
Special Skills
Computer literacy.
Photographic skills.
Methodical and
Interest in museums,
systematic approach to
heritage or culture.
work.
Flexible.
Ability to work on own
initiative and as part of a
team.
Others - travel,
political
restrictions,
night work
None.
Experience of work in
the cultural sector.
None.
Total
Total
Grand Total
NB: It is not always necessary to complete every criteria box.