National body Museums Galleries Scotland has teamed up with the Heritage Lottery Fund to create non-graduate programme
Twenty people are being given the chance to carve out a career for themselves in Scotland’s museum and galleries thanks to a charity partnership.
The Heritage Horizons Traineeship Programme, which has been created by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future programme, is an accredited one-year paid traineeship for non-graduates.
It provides the opportunity for trainees to achieve an SVQ level 3 vocational qualification in Museums and Galleries Practice alongside workplace learning during a 12 month paid placement in a host museum.
In total 386 applications were received for 20 traineeships.
They met for the first time today at Edinburgh’s Grassmarket Centre ahead of starting their programme which will see them work alongside professionals in their host museum or gallery, learning a range of core museum skills including digitising collections, learning and engagement and volunteer management.
We’re delighted now to be able to offer non-graduates of all ages and backgrounds a career opportunity in the heritage sector and have been encouraged by the overwhelming number of applications
Joanne Orr, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “We’ve run successful internship programmes for graduates for the last two years, with almost all of our interns then going on to work in museums or to further education.
“We’re delighted now to be able to offer non-graduates of all ages and backgrounds a career opportunity in the heritage sector and have been encouraged by the overwhelming number of applications we’ve had.”
Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, awarded MGS £422,400 to deliver this traineeship programme, said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund has been championing work-based placements for a number of years and is delighted to be able to give financial support to MGS through our Skills for the Future programme.
“Not only will these traineeship opportunities make a difference to the individuals’ lives but they will help ensure that the future of Scotland’s heritage is in safe and skilled hands.”
