Current placement opportunities

Organisation name: The Fitzwilliam Museum 

Organisation’s website: https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/

Location of placement: Cambridge

To apply: To apply, please send a CV and 300-word statement of interest referring to the placement description and how you meet the required knowledge and skills to training@oocdtp.ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 28 November, 5pm. Interviews will take place on 8 December.

Placement Description: 

This project will offer an opportunity to undertake creative, qualitative pre- and post-visit evaluation of two Fitzwilliam exhibitions.

• Bound Together, Leather from Northern Nigeria is a temporary display at The Fitzwilliam Museum that explores the history of leather production and its use from the late nineteenth century in Nigeria and the UK. The display brings together objects from across the University of Cambridge’s collections and uses leather to explore legacies of empire, crafting communities, and uncover one of the many untold stories of African labour in the University’s collections. The doctoral researcher will produce an evaluation report for the display and related public engagement activities in its final weeks. A display of this kind is unusual for this space, both because of its content and the types of objects included. The display is one of the outcomes of African Collections Futures, a research project focused on African and Africa-related materials across the University of Cambridge’s eight museums, Botanic Garden, University Library and related departments. African Collections Futures seeks to develop new and deeper engagements with these collections and facilitate greater access for Africa-based and diasporic communities in particular.
   
• Made in Egypt reveals the untold stories of the Egyptian makers, technology and techniques behind these extraordinary objects, our exciting new exhibition is the first to explore ancient Egypt through the lives of its craftspeople, bringing together jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and more, including spectacular objects never before seen in the UK. The first paid-for display at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Made in Ancient Egypt brings to life fascinating cutting-edge research which sheds new light on the ancient Egyptians’ technical processes, many of which are immediately recognisable today, as well as how they lived, worked and worshipped. It is the result of longstanding research at the Fitzwilliam.

The student will be supported by a team comprising the Senior Curator African Collections Futures, Senior Curator Ancient Nile Valley, Assistant Research Professor Museum Learning and the Head of Research and Impact. The exact evaluation methodologies to be used will be developed in discussion with the student and is likely to include visitor surveys, interviews with the possibility to explore some creative methods too.

It’s expected that the student will gain experience of undertaking in-gallery and audience-facing evaluation, as well as an opportunity write to up findings as reports to be presented to senior managers within the organisation, informing future organisational reporting, including to Research England.

Skills, knowledge or experience needed:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of and interest in African history, museums and heritage, exhibition design, and visitor engagement.
• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g. surveys, interviews, focus groups).
• Awareness of how museums attract and serve diverse audiences.
• Basic understanding of how exhibitions communicate ideas and support learning.
• Knowledge of ethical considerations in museum practice, including accessibility and representation.

Skills

• Ability to design and conduct surveys, interviews, and observational studies.
• Competence in analysing feedback and visitor data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills reporting findings and engaging with staff and visitors.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills to enable effective work with curators, educators, and other museum professionals.
• Ability to take initiative and self-direction in completing work efficiently and to a high standard.

Timeframe:

Up to three months, starting at the end of January.

To Apply:

To apply, please send a CV and 300-word statement of interest to training@oocdtp.ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 28th November.