Student Name:

Roberta

Programme of Study:

MA Art Museum and Gallery Studies (MA) 2016-2017 Academic Year

Career/ Sector Interests:

I am interested in working with permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. I hope to work in curating and develop my art writing but also enjoy engaging a range of different ages with art through educational activities and events.

Placement Venue:

The Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, Orkney

Placement Duration (30 or 12 days):

30 day placement 

What type of activities did you undertake whilst you were on placement?

While on placement I had the chance to undertake a range of different activities.

I helped with the installation of two temporary exhibitions which included lots of hands on jobs such as painting walls, moving plinths, cleaning floors, filling in holes, screwing up information panels and generally preparing the gallery space for opening. I was on hand at the exhibition opening serving drinks and speaking to visitors. 

I enjoyed spending some time front of house chatting to visitors about exhibitions and helped to gather survey data through interviews which will aid the Centre in better understanding their audience and what they want from the Pier.

During the summer in Stromness there are lots of festivals and celebrations taking place which spill into the Pier Arts Centre such as the St Magnus Festival, Stromness Shopping Week and the Per Mare bringing lots of tourists and associated activities to the town. During the St Magnus festival I helped set up for poetry readings and talks taking place in the gallery. As part of Stromness Shopping Week I spent time helping to develop drop in craft activities for children in relation to exhibitions and the collection and helped with their delivery.  Alongside the Exhibitions Assistant we judged and prepared for the Pavement Artist competition which takes place every Shopping Week on the Pier.

I also helped with the Study Group and the daily opening and closing down of the Centre.

What were you placement highlights?

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Pier Arts Centre and the opportunity to go to Orkney and work with a small team and the Centre’s incredible core collection of British Modernist Art.  Stromness is a hub of creativity and I was introduced to lots of artists, writers and musicians through the Pier. 

Shopping week was a highlight for me as it was an opportunity to engage with those who may not necessarily come into the gallery on a regular basis but come to take part in scheduled activities. Being part of an installation was a great chance to develop what the course had taught me and learn about the practical side of exhibition making.

My highlights also include conversations I had with those who work at the Pier about their vision for the Centre’s future, understanding their approach to programming exhibitions and the way the gallery positions itself within Orkney.

The staff at the Pier were so welcoming and enthusiastic to help with whatever aspect of the gallery I was interested in learning about. I would highly recommend this placement to anyone who wants a chance of being involved in lots of different aspects of working with permanent and temporary modern and contemporary exhibitions and events.