Traineeship initiative is 300 times oversubscribed
British Museum scheme attracts 1,500 applicants
A programme offering five traineeships at the British Museum (BM) has received 1,533 applications.
The scheme, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future initiative, offers successful applicants a six-month placement at the BM and 18 months at one of five partner museums, gaining hands-on work experience and an accredited diploma in curatorship.
Maria Bojanowska, who coordinates the scheme at the museum, said that she shortlisted 60 applicants who had a track record in volunteering and had showed an aptitude for a curatorial career, for the five traineeships.
She added that most applicants were graduates, while many had a master’s. Other Skills for the Future schemes have also been oversubscribed, with 1,300 applications for 20 placements at the Museums Galleries Scotland interns programme; 700 applications for five placements on another BM programme called Train the Curator; 644 applications for 10 placements on Tate’s Museum and its Future programme; 252 applications for 12 placements on the Northern Ireland Museum Council’s Collection Skills Initiative; and 600 applications for six placements at Whitechapel Gallery.
Victoria McGuinness, project manager at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, said she received 200 applications for four places on the Keeping Heritage Alive scheme last year.
“When fewer jobs are available, this is something to help ensure the skillset remains,” she added.
The scheme, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future initiative, offers successful applicants a six-month placement at the BM and 18 months at one of five partner museums, gaining hands-on work experience and an accredited diploma in curatorship.
Maria Bojanowska, who coordinates the scheme at the museum, said that she shortlisted 60 applicants who had a track record in volunteering and had showed an aptitude for a curatorial career, for the five traineeships.
She added that most applicants were graduates, while many had a master’s. Other Skills for the Future schemes have also been oversubscribed, with 1,300 applications for 20 placements at the Museums Galleries Scotland interns programme; 700 applications for five placements on another BM programme called Train the Curator; 644 applications for 10 placements on Tate’s Museum and its Future programme; 252 applications for 12 placements on the Northern Ireland Museum Council’s Collection Skills Initiative; and 600 applications for six placements at Whitechapel Gallery.
Victoria McGuinness, project manager at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, said she received 200 applications for four places on the Keeping Heritage Alive scheme last year.
“When fewer jobs are available, this is something to help ensure the skillset remains,” she added.