As we get ready to welcome new faces into our internship program, we fondly look back on the inspiring individuals that joined our staff in 2021; Liz, Melissa, and Kaylie. Learn more about the internship in their own words:
As Summer Interns of the National Gallery, we know firsthand that working at the gallery is an extraordinary experience. The gallery stands out in many ways; besides being an art museum and non-profit organisation, the team is extremely welcoming and sitting in a staff meeting feels like being held in a warm hug. While first-day jitters are normal for everyone, the friendly, helpful, and hardworking staff members helped to soothe our nerves. There is never a reason to worry or stress over a task because there is always someone around and willing to help.
These are our experiences of summer…
Liz: Interning in the Events Department for the National Gallery has provided me with knowledge on how to plan, organise and host an event. The skills I have developed have allowed me to understand how to work with various vendors to rent equipment, arrange catering, manage and recruit staff, and volunteers for gallery events, and to achieve these within a fixed budget. Working in the social media field has taught me about time management, choosing the right images and content to reach the widest possible audience, as well as how to advertise a variety of events and spotlight select gift shop merchandise on social media. A few of my favorite tasks included contributing to the gallery’s social media strategy and working on digital campaigns, as well as the time I spent working at the front desk of the gallery, which is the person who typically greets most visitors to the site. The most exciting experience was meeting new people each day and seeing the visitors enjoying the exhibition.
Melissa: Despite having only worked a month alongside the curatorial team, I have gained knowledge and skills specific to curating and galleries in general that will aid me in continuing my art education. During my internship I learned how artworks in the gallery are processed into the database and stored carefully until they are exhibited. This allowed me to discover famous local artists and their work, which helped me learn more about Cayman’s history and allowed me to gain inspiration for my own artwork. As a curatorial intern, I was also required to work in the gallery’s library. Working in the library taught me basic librarian skills and knowledge, like the Dewey decimal system and how to catalogue books into the library software.
Kaylie: My time spent at the gallery during my internship has been very enjoyable! I was given the opportunity to join the gallery team again, this time on their Summer Internship programme supporting the Education department, having previously completed a period of work experience through CIFEC in 2019/20. As an Education intern I was able to provide receptionist cover, and plan and create worksheets and lessons for school children visiting the exhibitions. Throughout my time at the gallery my input felt valued, and while I am not the most talkative due to my general shyness, the staff all made efforts to include me in important discussions, which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone.
I’m thankful for my time here and I enjoyed the experience.
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