Museum of East Anglian Life
Job description
Job title:
Collections and Learning Internship
Responsible to:
Collections Manager and Learning Officer, Museum of East Anglian Life
Responsible for: Volunteers, the public, the Collection.
The Internship Programme
‘Learning from the Past – Skilled for the Future’ is a training programme running from 2010 to 2014.
The programme is being jointly run by Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum, and the Museum
of East Anglian Life. It is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. Its
aim is to develop museum-specific traditional skills including:
 Rural collections management
 Rural collections learning & interpretation
 Rural steam engines operation
 Working heavy horses
 Museum heritage building & landscape management
 Heritage estate managements and conservation
 Management of traditional farms & livestock
 Heritage gardening in a museum environment
 Traditional Farriery skills
 Visitor services in a heritage setting
This internship is for 12 months, commencing April 2014 and is focused on rural collections
management and interpretation with a special emphasis on formal and informal learning for all ages.
It is based at the Museum of East Anglian Life, in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Main Purpose of Job
To work at the Museum of East Anglian Life, whilst developing skills, knowledge and experience in
various aspects of rural collections management and interpretation, including delivering schools
sessions, assisting with re-interpreting our schools offer in line with the new national curriculum,
delivering a family learning programme, handling of objects, cataloguing, display and interpretation,
providing talks and presentations, and leading guided tours.
Main Duties
 Under the direction of the Collections Manager, contribute to the general work of the curatorial and
collections management team. Learn and apply appropriate standards of documentation and
collections care. Help ensure that enquiries relating to the collection are answered in accordance with
customer service standards.
 After guidance and training, assist the Collections Team in the processing, maintenance and
updating of paper and computer records: ensure collections are accurately documented.
 After guidance, carry out the marking and labelling of museum objects to agreed standards.
 After guidance and training, assist in the photography and scanning of items from the collections to
provide digital learning resources and access to oral history.
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 After guidance and training, assist in researching and producing interpretation that includes family
learning sessions, events and the ongoing relevance of a weekly early years programme.
 Assist in the development of school and family learning resources to accompany our temporary
exhibition programme.
 Assist (if required) with the work of volunteers and visiting researchers.
 Work flexibly and contribute as appropriate to the general work of the Museum. Work in other
museums if and when required, particularly liaison and knowledge sharing with Interns at Gressenhall
Museum in Norfolk.
 Abide by the Museum Association’s Code of Ethics and ensure that Museum of East Anglian Life
and other museums provide the best service to customers in line with any Museum of East Anglian
Life policies.
Pay and Conditions
Starting salary: £3.72 to £6.31 per hour (depending on age); equivalent to up to £12,140 per annum
Hours of work : 37 hours per week. This will include weekend, evening and Bank Holiday working. Due
to the nature of the role there may be the requirement to work additional hours deemed
necessary by the Museum for which time off may be taken in lieu to be agreed by the
Collections Manager or Director.
Holiday entitlement: 21 days a year, not including bank holidays.
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Museum of East Anglian Life
Person Specification
Skills &
Attributes
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Mainstream IT applications.
Education
Positive attitude to learning.
GCSEs (or their equivalent)
in English.
Experience of using a
database.
Experience of undertaking
simple research e.g.
through an educational
project.
An interest in history, a
basic knowledge of
historical periods & their
key features.
Basic understanding of the
national curriculum in
England.
GCSEs (or their equivalent)
in history/heritage, and/or a
relevant IT discipline.
Experience of working with
children/young people in
either a paid or
voluntary capacity.
Experience of working with
volunteers or of being a
volunteer.
Ability to adapt and
respond to changing
situations at short notice.
Photographic and
digitisation skills.
Research skills.
Previous
Experience
Special Skills
IT skills in Word & Excel.
Methodical yet creative
approach to work.
Neat handwriting.
Literacy and spelling skills.
Flexible.
Ability to follow
instructions.
Ability to work on one’s
own after guidance.
Ability to be part of a
team.
Good communication skills.
Presentation skills, able to
interact and interface with
the public, with an
emphasis on
children/young people.
Others - travel,
Enthusiastic.
Ability/willingness to work
political restrictions,
Ability to access all
evenings and weekends.
night work
museum buildings.
Must be prepared to
travel.
NB Both the application and interview process will be used to assess applicants against criteria
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