Internship Role Profile
Visitor Experience & Art Gallery Intern
Overview of the role
This position offers the chance to be at the heart of the
development of Mottisfont’s Visitor
Experience, helping with everything
from interpretation and marketing to
artists’ residencies and exhibitions
in our new museum-quality gallery
spaces.
What’s in it for you?
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you’ll be working directly with a senior member of staff on all aspects of visitor
experience development
you’ll gain solid experience in particularly of creating and evaluating interpretation
(both for a gallery and for a historic property), of creating and testing learning
resources, and of marketing.
In particular, you’ll be helping with our new art gallery spaces, everything from
assisting with the organisation, interpretation and hanging of several shows (including
a community-based ‘open’ show) to helping with artists’ residencies and workshops
You’ll sometimes work directly with our visitors, welcoming them and understanding
what they’re gaining from their time at Mottisfont (and what else we could do for
them)
You’ll have an opportunity to gain an understanding of the work of the Trust
and an opportunity to develop skills that will be of value to you through your career
development.
Our last intern said she’d learned more with us than anywhere else she’d
worked – and we trusted her to take on some significant independent projects,
from which we all benefited greatly.
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract
What’s involved?
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you’ll assist the Visitor Experience & Communities Manager as she works with other
colleagues on:
bringing Mottisfont to life, in particular around both short and long term plans for telling
Mottisfont’s key stories in an atmospheric way
this will include sometimes working in the house, welcoming visitors and gathering
information about their experience
developing and refining learning resources and sharing them with local schools
marketing Mottisfont effectively and building new audiences for specific parts of our offer
organising and delivering a programme of exhibitions in our gallery spaces, including an
open show and assistance with artists’ residencies. This is everything from admin to
hanging pictures – very varied, and great experience.
In particular, we’d like the person undertaking this role to work on the Open show in
October, which has a strong aspect of community involvement.
Becoming familiar with and then following the National Trust’s Health and Safety Policy at
all times
Giving any other appropriate assistance in relation to the project/role as may be
reasonably requested
This role will suit people who…
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are practical, good-humoured and happy to muck in – we work at pace and
have to be very flexible about what we do to get it all done
is reliable and able to use their initiative
is interested in the work of the National Trust and in Mottisfont
is interested not just in history, art and places but also in PEOPLE
has great interpersonal skills – you must be able to communicate and to listen
can demonstrate competent IT skills.
Extra information
Location: Mottisfont, nr Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LP. We are in the countryside,
and the nearest train station (Mottisfont & Dunbridge) is a good 20 mins walk, so
ideally you’ll have a car or bike.
Time commitment: 3 days minimum, up to 5 days a week, 9am – 5pm. Some weekend
working would be good – this is when we’re busiest and you’ll get a completely
different experience.
Anticipated length of internship: 6 months
Training/Resources: As part of your induction you will receive training to help equip you for
your role. Throughout your internship you will have the opportunity to develop your skills, and
review your personal development with your line manager. You will also have the opportunity
to find out more about the National Trust during your time with us.
Expenses: Out-of-pocket travel costs between home and volunteering place will be paid,
and other reasonable expenses agreed in advance
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract
About the National Trust
National Trust is a registered charity and is completely independent of Government. We rely
for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and money raised from our
commercial operations. We are supported by 3.7 million members and 61,000 volunteers
without whom we simply could not manage. We protect and open to the public over 300
historic houses and gardens and 49 industrial monuments and mills. But it doesn’t stop
there. We also look after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands,
archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages – for places, for ever, for everyone.
About Mottisfont
Mottisfont is a beautiful old estate in Hampshire. It has lovely gardens (including a
world famous walled rose garden), a quirky house converted from a 13th-century
priory, meadows and a stretch of the River Test running through the grounds.
As part of our Property Business Plan, we are developing the visitor experience so
that Mottisfont becomes known for more than the roses, amazing though they are, and
so that people want to visit Mottisfont all year round rather than just in June (that’s a
rather fragile business model). We’ve started well, and have been inspired by
Mottisfont’s 20th-century history as a meeting place for artists to open a top floor art
gallery, where we present a programme of changing exhibitions. We’re also doing
much more to attract a particular family audience. But there’s still much more to do to
bring our property to life, and present the kind of visitor experience that will delight
our target audiences and keep them coming back.
We have 30 permanent staff in the house, gardens, countryside, estate office, and
visitor experience (visitor operations, retail and catering). We have over 300
volunteers, who welcome people to the house and work as outdoor guides, buggy
drivers and help to tend our gardens and the areas of countryside we manage,
including areas of the New Forest.
This position is part of the close-knit Visitor Experience team, working directly with
the Visitor Experience & Communities Manager in an office that is also home to our
Visitor Operations Manager and Visitor Operations Assistant.
What is a National Trust Internship?
This is an opportunity for people looking to gain work experience across different areas of
work within the Trust. The internship will be attached to a particular project or area of work,
and will give you the opportunity to develop your skills and experience in this area. The Trust
has a commitment to support the personal development of individuals who volunteer with us
through the internship programme, recognising the importance of work experience to future
career development.
Compiled by: Louise Govier, Visitor Experience & Communities Manager
Date compiled: 11 / 8 / 2011
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract