果冻影院

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am the Collections Care and Curatorial Assistant for the newly launched 果冻影院 Culture Lab.听I started this role in September, just before the grand opening of the Culture Lab in October 2023, and the installation of our first exhibition 'Power!'. This granted me the unique opportunity to be听part of the formation of the space and听to start implementing key processes from scratch 鈥� which has been really exciting!听

My job involves a myriad of tasks, mainly focusing on conservation, collections care, audience engagement and accessibility. This includes implementing preventive conservation measures for the Culture Lab鈥檚 exhibition space and collection store. I鈥檓 currently working on an audio guide for the Power! exhibition in collaboration with 果冻影院 students, with the aim of increasing accessibility.

I鈥檓 currently听Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer at , as part of their emerging professionals network. I also work at the British Museum as part of the Learning and National Partnerships department, freelance at the Royal Collections Trust, and work and volunteer at the Science Museum and Natural History Museum whenever I can.

Tell us about the听journey that led you to where you are now

I started my career volunteering at the Natural History Museum as part of the learning team. I later joined the British Museum where I trained as a community partnerships officer. My work focused on improving access to museum spaces and facilitating projects that create social value. One of my favourite projects was being part of 果冻影院鈥檚 鈥榤useum on prescription鈥�. I also听assisted听in the curation of 鈥痑苍诲鈥�.听

After my traineeship, I went on to assist curators and conservators with collections care, digitisation, research and the preventive conservation of the museum鈥檚 Caribbean and ethnographic collections. This inspired me to pursue an MA in Principles of Conservation at 果冻影院, which I was awarded in July 2023.

Before joining 果冻影院, I gained an internship through鈥疘CON, where I undertook training at English Heritage as a鈥痳. I was also given the opportunity to work with Painting Conservators on fine art restoration and conservation, and with Conservation Scientists on experiments, research and assisting with Oddy tests. I learnt so much and really enjoyed my time there. 听听

What career achievement are you most proud of?

As a British Indo-Caribbean Londoner, being one of the first people to focus on digitising the Caribbean collections at the British Museum meant a lot to me.听

While working on the collections I was asked to be part of the , Family and Care project. I selected collections, updated documentation, enabled access and facilitated object discussions with the group. We all felt a connection while sharing stories about the objects, in particular, a Guyanese Hammock.听

This object was selected and is currently on display in Room 24. To my knowledge, it is the third Guyanese object currently on permanent display at the museum! I鈥檓 really proud of what we achieved.听

What听project or听initiative are you most听looking forward to?

I鈥檓 most looking forward to working with students on their audio guides for the Culture Lab Power! exhibition. We have a variety of collections on display that have inspired unique stories and viewpoints.听

What are you reading, watching and listening to?

Reading: A little Princess鈥� written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.听

Watching: Catching up on all the Doctor Who episodes I鈥檝e missed!

Listening: A mix of Paul Izak and Sam Garrett songs. 听

What is your favourite museum, gallery or exhibition at the moment?听

My favourite museum will always be the Natural History Museum. There are very few Caribbean objects that survived the journey to and from the Caribbean, so I've always been drawn towards nature and the natural world.听

As time went on, Caribbean people came together to make their own objects such as jewellery. I can鈥檛 wait for you all to see the work of Ysabel Hannam from our Curating Power Collective, called 鈥淩edefined: Guyanese Gold Bangle鈥�. It will be installed as part of the Power! exhibition from 18th March until September 2024.听

I also can't wait to visit the 鈥榊OKO ONO: Music of the Mind鈥� exhibition at Tate Modern!听

If you had one piece of advice for people who want to pursue a similar career path, what would it be?

Keep pushing forward, join groups and collectives, and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions -听you never know where opportunities will take you! 听
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Find out more about the 果冻影院 Culture Lab and current Power! exhibition.听
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