Volunteer Curatorial Internship Role Description
Orleans House Gallery
Section 1: Overview
Internship Title: Volunteer Curatorial Intern (x 2)
Reporting to: Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Department: Education, Children’s and Cultural Services
Section: The Arts Service, Orleans House Gallery
Issue Date: Friday 23rd July 2010
Section 2: Remuneration
As a voluntary internship role this position is not eligible for the national minimum
wage. You will be paid travel expenses of up to £10 for every day you come into the
office. Each of the two Volunteer Curatorial Interns will also receive a maintenance
bursary of £200, to be paid in two instalments of £100.
The Arts Service at Orleans House Gallery defines internships using the following
basic definition:
“An internship is a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job learning.
Interns are usually recent university graduates, but other adults seeking skills and
knowledge in order to establish themselves in a career may choose to undertake
internships.”
– Internships Best Practice Standard and Guidelines, Museums, Libraries and
Archives Association (MLA), draft March 2010
Orleans House Gallery is unable to make you an offer of employment at the end of
the programme, but we will make every reasonable effort to arrange relevant inhouse and external training for you during the internship, and at the end of your
placement you will receive a formal career development review in which your
learning will be assessed with regard to how it can further your career development.
Section 3: Duration and Hours
Orleans House Gallery is offering two curatorial internships (for two separate
candidates) which ideally involve volunteering for 3 months at 3 days per week,
between the hours of 10.00am – 5.30pm. The first internship will run from 23rd
August – 19th November 2010, and the second internship from 27th September –
23rd December 2010.
Section 4: Purpose of the Volunteer Curatorial Intern
Orleans House Gallery is offering two three-month Volunteer Curatorial Internships
for two separate candidates interested in developing their knowledge and
understanding of curatorial practices.
Orleans House Gallery is a Local Authority accredited museum in the London
Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. It is home to the Borough Art Collection, which
contains a number of historically important works relating to the local area and the
collection of the explorer Sir Richard Burton. Orleans House Gallery has recently
begun a long-term project to digitise all works in the Borough Art Collection. As well
as being responsible for the care and management of the Borough Art Collection,
Orleans House Gallery curates a regular rolling programme of exhibitions at three
sites in the borough: the Main Gallery and Stables Gallery at Orleans House, and the
Riverside Gallery in Richmond Town Hall. These range widely from solo shows by
contemporary artists, to themed exhibitions and collaborative community displays.
The role of Volunteer Curatorial Intern will provide the post-holder with valuable work
experience and insight into how curatorial projects are run in a busy medium-sized
museum. The Volunteer Curatorial Intern will support the Curator in the
administration, research, care and hanging of exhibitions, as well as undertaking
digitisation and collections management tasks.
Section 5: Key Responsibilities
1. Assist the Curator with research, loans, and submissions for the Main Gallery
Autumn exhibition, Making it / Faking It, as well as with exhibitions in the
Gallery’s other two exhibition spaces
2. Lead on the planning for and installation of the In Focus and Corridor Gallery
displays, which regularly present works from the Borough Art Collection, with
support from the Curator
3. Scan, photograph and catalogue items in the Borough Art Collection and
administer the electronic database
4. Research items in the Borough Art Collection and create information files for
works on the electronic database
5. Assist with changeover duties for Making it / Faking it, and for other 2010
exhibitions at Orleans House Gallery’s three exhibition spaces
6. Contribute to the programming for the 2011 exhibition schedule
7. Help out with the smooth running of special events relating to Exhibitions and
Displays, including private views
8. Interact with members of the public and communicate the history of the
collection and information about current exhibitions to them
9. Support the smooth running of special events relating to Exhibitions and
Displays, including private views
10. Providing assistance as needed to the Curator and the Exhibitions Assistant,
as well as other gallery staff.
Section 6: Volunteer Internship Role Requirements
Criterion
Essential
Desirable
Assessed by application
or interview
X
Application
Qualifications
Educated to degree level or
currently studying for a degree
Skills, Abilities & Knowledge
An interest in and knowledge of
art (historical or contemporary)
X
Application/interview
Enthusiasm for learning about
curatorial practice and collections
management
X
Application/interview
Computer literate (Microsoft
word, internet)
X
Application
Able to use equipment such as
scanners and cameras
Application
X
Good organisational skills
X
Application
Attentive to detail
X
Application
Able to use own initiative and
work independently as well as
part of a team
Good communication skills and
ability to work with the public
Application
X
Application/interview
X
Section 7: Application Guidance
Closing date for applications: Monday 9th August 2010 at 5.30pm
How to Apply: Please contact Catherine.Spencer@Richmond.gov.uk to receive an
application pack with the Volunteer Curatorial Internship Application Form and
Diversity Monitoring form. You then need to complete these, either electronically or
by hand, and return via email or by post to:
Catherine Spencer
Arts and Heritage Projects Coordinator
Orleans House Gallery
Riverside
Twickenham, TW1 3DJ
NB: No CVs please – only application forms will be accepted.
If you have any inquires about the application process, or wish to access the
application pack in large format, audio or Braille, please contact the Arts and
Heritage Projects Coordinator via the above details or on 0208 831 6485.