The 2018 Fellowship, Mentorship and Volunteer Placement Program is now open and provides professional development opportunities for everybody, from paid senior to volunteer staff in a museum or gallery.  The program is a Create NSW devolved funding program, administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW (M&G NSW) on behalf of the NSW Government.

Fellowships offer senior staff from NSW museums and galleries the opportunity to undertake a placement at an international cultural organisation. Up to $6,000 is available to spend two weeks at the host organisation of your choice, or at either the Dallas Museum of Art in the USA or the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

In 2017 Andrew Moritz, CEO of Transport Heritage NSW, was awarded a Fellowship at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, USA. During the Fellowship period Andrew was exposed to North American governance and programming models for rail museums and attended the international rail museum conference, RailConf III. The professional development opportunity also enabled him to gain a greater understanding of issues surrounding rail museum operations and restoration, as well as exchange and networking opportunities.

“The Fellowship provided me with a comprehensive opportunity to look at a number of rail museum/operating heritage railways in North East USA/Canada”.

Mentorships are a valuable professional development opportunity for emerging and mid-level museum and gallery staff to spend two weeks with a state, national or smaller, more specialised organisation. Applicants can choose to spend two-weeks at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW), Australian Museum or Sydney Living Museums. Applicants can also arrange their own placement host. In 2018, M&G NSW will offer up to $3,000 for each Mentorship placement.

Blake Griffiths, Public Programs Officer at Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery (BHRAG) was the recipient of a 2017 Mentorship at the AGNSW. This Mentorship in the Learning and Participation division enabled Blake to observe the institution’s current education programs, helping him to understand how BHRAG can streamline its education programming. Blake has since re-branded and re-programed BHRAG’s education activities, which has seen an increase in participation from schools. During the Mentorship he was also able to run his own tours and facilitate the Archibald Prize study morning, as well as meet with a number of staff from other areas of the AGNSW.

“My experience at the AGNSW as an early arts worker and professional has been beneficial beyond words. The experience I gained in a short amount of time completely rejuvenated my inspiration for working in regional Australia. The partnerships that have flourished on account of the mentorship have not only been beneficial to my professional network but will continue to benefit and engage the local community for years to come.”

The Volunteer Placement Program is a great opportunity for anyone giving their time and expertise to a small or volunteer managed museum, or Aboriginal cultural centre in NSW. Volunteers can choose to be placed in the following organisations; Albury LibraryMuseum, Australian Museum, Hurstville Museum & Gallery, and the State Archives and Records of NSW. Or applicants can arrange a placement with an organisation of their own choice. In 2018 up to $1,000 is available for each Volunteer Placement.

Robyn Bunton from the Frank Partridge VC Military Museum undertook a 2017 Volunteer Placement at the State Archives and Records of NSW. The placement allowed Robyn to gain an understanding of the correct methods for protecting and storing paper-based collections. These skills will enable her to introduce changes to the daily operations of the Museum in order to better protect its paper records and photographs. Robyn was also given the opportunity to experience different areas of the Archives, such as the storage facility and conservation lab.

“I greatly appreciated the encouragement and support I received from all the staff in my placement. Their enthusiasm and knowledge made the placement so enjoyable and I was able to watch and learn because of their positive attitude… I came home feeling the work I do as a volunteer is important.”

Applications close 5pm, Friday 6 April 2018

If you would like more information about any of these programs, please visit; http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/grants-we-administer/placement-programs/

This is a Create NSW devolved funding program, administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.