Huge demand for Museums Galleries Scotland interns programme

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Graduates hungry for the opportunity to work and learn – but not being required to do so for free – have applied en masse to secure one of 20 internships to be hosted by museums across Scotland.

Museums Galleries Scotland, who developed the new internships programme, have reported intense interest from graduates keen to secure one of the year-long internships.
On last Friday alone (3 June 2011), the day of the deadline, the organisation responsible for the strategic development of Scotland’s museums and galleries received 900 applications by email.
The processing of applications continues this week and the final figure of applications received is expected to reach four figures. 10,000 application packs were downloaded from the Museums Galleries Scotland website since the application period commenced in early May.

Commenting on the response to the internships, Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:

“The reaction to our interns programme has been incredible and our excellent admin team have done an admirable job to process the thousands of applications received.”

“This is our first foray into the area of internships and although we knew they would be popular we did not anticipate interest on this scale. The first indication of the high demand that was to come was receiving 20,000 hits to our website just after our announcement of the internship places. Twitter and Facebook have played a huge role in spreading awareness of the internships amongst graduates who have then jumped at the opportunity to gain valuable work experience that allows them to develop their career path – whether they continue to work in museums or in another sector.

“The fact that our interns receive a £15,000 bursary and that preference is being given to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds will have been attractive factors for many.”

Museums Galleries Scotland created the Interns Programme with funding from the Heritage lottery Fund Skills for the Future scheme.

The Interns Programme aims to help the industry address sustainability issues around skills sharing that could face the sector in the future and help it diversify the workforce in future.
At its heart, it encourages the passing on of skills and knowledge essential for the successful management of museums and galleries. Each internship is tailored by the host organisation to play to its strengths and so provide a first-class learning opportunity.

Sifting of the applications has now commenced and interviews will take place during the summer. The internships are for one year and will commence by October 2011. There will be learning and training opportunities provided by Museums Galleries Scotland and the host organisation throughout the year including events that encourage career development and networking opportunities.

- ENDS –

The full list of host organisations and internship positions are:

1. Almond Valley Heritage Trust: Digital Resources Development Intern
2. City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries: Collections Trainee
3. Dumfries and Galloway Council, Nithsdale Museums: Museum Intern
4. The McManus, Dundee: Collections Intern (Numismatics)
5. Discovery Point and Verdant Works, Dundee: Education Intern
6. Collections Resource Centre, Glasgow Life: Volunteer and Placement Intern
7. The Open Museum, Glasgow Life: Outreach Intern
8. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery: Museums Collections Intern
9. Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (The National Trust for Scotland): Learning Intern
10. The National Trust for Scotland (HQ and various properties): Volunteer Management Intern
11. Scottish Borders Council Museums & Galleries Service: Museum and Gallery Trainee
12. Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust: Reserve Collections Intern
13. Scottish Maritime Museum: Collections and Digitisation Intern
14. National Mining Museum (lead partner): Volunteer Co-ordinator Intern
15. Black Watch Museum: Collections Intern
16. Gordon Highlanders Museum: Volunteer Coordinator Intern
17. Orkney Islands Council Arts, Museums and Heritage Service and The Pier Arts Centre: Museums and Gallery Intern
18. University of Aberdeen, Marischal Museum: Museum Intern (Volunteering)
19. University of Edinburgh Collection of Historical Musical Instruments: University of Edinburgh Collections Intern
20. The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: Collections Intern

For further information about the Interns Programme visit our web page The Programmes MGS Interns

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Published
7th Jun 2011

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