Role:
Lead Volunteer Exhibitions Curator

Where:
Leicester Museum & Gallery

When: 2023

Reflecting on changing landscapes in the community

What began as a volunteer position digitising the photographic archive collection at the Leicester Museum & Galleries turned into a Lead Volunteer Exhibitions Curator role. Over the last two months I collaborated with the Exhibitions team to put together ‘Leicester Vistas’. I worked with the main curator on the project to develop the layout and content of the exhibit. We developed the underlying narrative and decided on themes for each section of the gallery. After we narrowed down the art and photographs to be used, I was given the task of designing the exhibition layout in the 3D modelling software SketchUp. This was used for the final approval of the exhibition design and 95% of what I originally planned in the 3D model was used during the hanging. 

It was surreal to see something I helped curate up on the walls of a museum for the first time. Finally, after all these years of studying museums, I was able to work in one and gain such valuable hands on experience. I learned so much during this whole process about the inner workings of the museum and the enormous team effort it is to put together an exhibition. I’m immensely proud of this exhibit and feel even closer to the community of Leicester after it. I’ll continue to volunteer at the museum and seek out more enriching opportunities and lend my skills to their efforts.