Meet Ailsa, 23, to find out more about her role as membership coordinator for V&A Dundee. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Ailsa:
I'm Ailsa, I'm 23 years old, and I'm the membership coordinator at V&A Dundee.
V&A Dundee is the first design-dedicated museum to open in Scotland and it's opened in my home town and it showcases design from all over Scotland and further afield. I think I've always been passionate about design throughout my whole life. Even when I was younger, I was always drawing and making things. Arts and Design was my kind of favourite subject at school and I've studied a degree in Textile Design. I became involved with V&A Dundee about about two years ago whilst I was studying at university. I became a member of the Young People's Collective, which was a group of young people from all over Dundee. We consulted on the opening of the museum just that there was a young person's voice involved.
I was actually able to become involved in the Young People's Collective because I had a mentor growing up who got in contact with me and said she was starting this group and would I want to be part of it so of course I said: "yes, absolutely." And, through that group, I got to work in various departments in the museum and was offered a job just after the opening weekend so I now work in the museum full-time.
I'm responsible for running the membership scheme. So, as part of that, I'm responsible for kind of speaking over the phone, over email, in person, for many customers wanting to become members and also kind of any queries that people who are members now have, they come straight to me. When I first started university, I wouldn't even have considered that I would go on to work in fundraising, but it's worked out really well for me.
One of my favourite things about my job is being able to be surrounded by all the design in the museum every single day. I just hope that, in the future, I get more opportunities to grow within V&A Dundee and just continue doing what I love.
Keeping art alive is incredibly meaningful and my job helps me do that.
- Ailsa studied Standard Grade Art & Design at school and continued with it at Advanced Higher
- She opted to study Textile Design at university but became involved in the opening of the V&A museum in Dundee as a volunteer
- As membership officer, Ailsa's job is to encourage people in the local community to visit the museum and attend events and exhibitions.
Ailsa is a membership coordinator in a design museum. There are a range of jobs working for arts centre and museums usually grouped together as âarts administrationâ jobs. Arts administrators help to organise events and exhibitions, manage staff, and look after buildings like theatres or museums.
What to expect if you want to be an arts administrator
- Arts administrator average salary: ÂŁ15,000 to ÂŁ30,000 per year
- Arts administrator typical working hours: 37 to 39 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be an arts administrator?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course, an apprenticeship, volunteering, or applying directly.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
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