Emma: Conservator

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Emma

I am the Conservator at Leeds Museums and Galleries

What is your job?

I work across all 8 sites

I look after the collections and the interiors

I do condition checks and check for pests

I train staff and talk to members of the public

What do you do in your job?

One of my main tasks is looking after the collections

I do condition checks for exhibition work, for objects that are going out on loan, and for objects that are coming in from other institutions

I make sure that the curators and the registrar's team have all the information that they need

How did you get your job and what is your background?

I started doing an Archaeological Science degree at Bradford where I did a module in conservation

I then went on to do a master's in Conservation of Historic Objects at Durham, which then led me into job placements at York, Doncaster and Bradford

I got this job nearly 25 years ago and have been here ever since

What do you like about your job?

I really like the variety of my job

I like the number of different types of objects, collections and buildings that I work across

I like the number of different people that I get to meet through my job

What is some advice on how to get a job like yours, and to work in a museum setting?

Look around at all the different courses, there are loads that are available

Get a course that has some good placement options. Getting practical experience is very valuable in this line of work

Look at doing internships

Speak to other conservators in the museum world

What are the benefits from working in a museum setting?

The types of objects you get to handle and all the behind the scenes work that you get to do

You get to see things and do things that many people don't get a chance to do

What is your favourite site you work at?

Because I work across the service, I think all my sites are my favourite

They all have different aspects to them, which makes them all unique and interesting to work across