Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture with Professional Experience MA – 2023
I particularly enjoyed the museum visits and talks, which gave me a chance to access information inside the museums and think about the content from a professional angle.
Why did you choose the University of Westminster?
Before I started my MA degree, the university had given clear instructions for how to build up knowledge in museum studies, which helped to transfer my career path.
What have you particularly enjoyed about your course?
The museum visits and talks, which gave me a chance to access information inside the museums and think about the content from a professional angle.
How have you found academic support as part of your studies?
When we felt confused, teachers helped us to think about the issues more deeply.
Where did you undertake your work placement?
I worked as a press and membership intern at the Saatchi Gallery.
Did you use the University Careers and Employability Service in securing a placement? If yes, tell us about your experience.
Yes, the staff gave me a clear idea of how to write a good CV and provided more specific suggestions for my Cover Letter and CV.
What was the application process for your placement?
I sent my CV and Cover Letter to the module leader, who passed the details on to the organisation. The line manager then arranged an interview, after which I was given an offer and signed my Placement Agreement and the gallery contract.
How has your course helped you with your work placement?
The Curating Contemporary Art module press release assessment gave me a good introduction to how to write a press release and marketing information. In the Current Issues module, a group project on museum social media helped me to build up more of an understanding.
Please provide examples of the type of work you undertook on your placement.
I answered calls and email requests and solved issues with the gallery membership system. I was also responsible for creating TikTok videos and GIFs for the gallery's social media accounts and made a strategic press plan.
What have you learnt and what skills did you gain during your placement?
My biggest learning was communication and writing emails to solve press and membership problems and assisting with press activities for the latest exhibitions.
What would your advice be to someone considering studying at Westminster?
If you consider changing your career to the museum and gallery sector, the University of Westminster will give you a good start to build up your knowledge step by step.
How do you plan to use your placement in your professional future?
My placement helped me to understand how a gallery runs and how to solve member requests, as well as giving me more confidence to work in a fully English work environment.