Natalie: Learning and Access Officer
Transcript
Can you introduce yourself?
Hello, I'm Natalie
I work as the Learning and Access Officer at Leeds City Museum
What is your job?
I help to organise and welcome school groups and family groups and other learners
What do you do in your job?
I help to lead school trips for school children
We go out to galleries and, do tours, searching activities, finding things
I get out our real museum artifacts and objects that the children can handle and interact with and learn from
I create trails, family activities and coordinate big events
How did you get your job and what is your background?
I studied Psychology as a student, and then I qualified and worked as a primary school teacher
Then I transition into working in the museum sector, my very first job in museums was an Enabler which is delivering activities for families and schools
Then I became a Learning and Access Officer
What do you like about your job?
I like the variety of what I get to do
I may sometimes work with a small group of four children and help them, to learn about a particular topic linked to their school studies
Or I may work with hundreds if not thousands of family visitors in our busiest school holidays, helping them spend time together as a family and discover new things and new passions
What is some advice on how to get a job like yours, and to work in a museum setting?
Get a good, good understanding of the types of different roles and jobs that are within the museum sector
speak to different people or do some research, see if you can find some journals online or some websites about, for example, museum learning
Ask a museum or a heritage site if you could go in and shadow for a day
What are the benefits from working in a museum setting?
I think being part of a wider team that's passionate and knowledgeable about the work that we do and the different subjects we have
You get to meet so many different people who visit the museums
Every day is different, which is interesting and exciting
I think being in a creative place that's very varied is good for your own wellbeing
What is your favourite site you work at?
Leeds City Museum is my favourite site because I know it the best and I really enjoy being here
Carl: Learning and Access Officer (SEND)
Transcript
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Carl
I am a Learning and Access officer for Leeds Museums and Galleries
What is your job?
I work on a project called Careers for All
What do you do in your job?
I create aspiring activities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities
I organise careers fairs, workshops, outreach and work experience
How did you get your job and what is your background?
I trained as a primary school teacher, specialising in additional educational needs
Volunteered for museums
After my teaching job I applied for museum jobs
Worked as a guide, then a learning assistant and then got the job I am in now
What do you like about your job?
Working with lots of different people and individuals daily
Get to know people well through our work experience scheme
What is some advice on how to get a job like yours, and to work in a museum setting?
Be involved in education, such as helping in a school, volunteer or get work experience in a school
Gain experience in a museum and heritage setting
What are the benefits from working in a museum setting?
Always surrounded by interesting history and heritage
Meet lots of interesting people
What is your favourite site you work at?
Temple Newsam has beautiful grounds that surround an incredible Tudor house
I also have a soft spot for Leeds Industrial Museum
Louise: Learning and Access Officer
Transcript
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Louise
I am the Learning and Access Officer here at the Discovery Centre
What is your job?
I work with schools, families and primary schools on our membership scheme
What do you do in your job?
With schools, I take their bookings and then I deliver their workshops when they come on site or I go out to them
With families, I help put together the family program, so that people can come in the half term and the holidays and do some activities.
And then with the members I send them out loan boxes of real objects that they can use in the classroom.
How did you get your job and what is your background?
I did an undergraduate in Art History
After that, I became a history teacher, and I taught for three years
Before starting a masters in Socially Engaged Practice
At the same time, I got a job at the National Justice Museum
I wanted to combine my teaching knowledge with my historical knowledge and museum learning felt like a good fit for me
What do you like about your job?
One of the main things is that I get to work with children and young people
I get to improve access to historical education, and hopefully they go away feeling inspired
What is some advice on how to get a job like yours, and to work in a museum setting?
Be brave, have some courage
If you want to make, make something
If you want to write, write something
Take all the opportunities you can
What are the benefits from working in a museum setting?
You learn something new every day
Every time you go into the store, someone tells you something new about different objects, or about ways of working
What is your favourite site you work at?
My favourite site is Leeds Art Gallery, just to go as a visitor
I like to take my sketchbook and do some drawing in there