The five-strong customer services team is studying together towards ServiceIQ’s National Certificate in Museums Practice. Kirsten says the flexibility of on-job learning suits the different team members’ schedules and styles.
“At first we decided we would all work on it together on Thursday afternoons, but with time pressure and other things that hasn’t always happened.” With Kirsten working full-time, and the other four team members being part-timers, the group needed an adaptable way to cover its studies. The on-job learning style of the ServiceIQ qualification allows each team member to study when it suits them, and to discover and meet their own learning style.
“I’ve learnt that I prefer to do the theory at home alone, and then do the practical assessments at work with the team. Others like to fit the theory in at work if they have an hour of down time,” Kirsten says. “We make it suit us as individuals. Everyone has a different way to learn. Getting back into study needs a different training of planning and time management. That’s why it’s good to work with the team, because we encourage each other and share ideas.”
Kirsten says the team she leads does a multi-skilled role. “We have to look after the visitors as well as the artworks. That means tracking the temperature and humidity inside the gallery, making sure exhibition spaces are safe, and working with all the visitors. The Gallery includes a shop and hosts events, so we need to be a jack of all trades.”
The group comes together to do the practical parts of the training. These have included visits to other institutions to see how they do things and strengthen professional ties. “We visited Auckland Art Gallery to see their approach to conservation. We make it a team exercise.”
Kirsten comes from a background teaching textiles, fashion and art, and some of her staff have degrees in fine arts. Working together on the National Certificate in Museum Practice has given them all a deeper understanding of the range of skills they share with colleagues at Govett-Brewster and in other galleries.
“We already know parts of the course content, and this gives us the opportunity to learn more and explore. The training recognises our existing skills and gives recognition to the jobs we do. It adds value to our previous experience and it validates our work.”
For more information, please contact ServiceIQ on 0800 863 693 or email intel@ServiceIQ.org.nz