Skills for the Future training programme: Meet our previous trainees

I’ve had the privilege of rotating around the various teams that make up the Registrars department, gaining experience and knowledge of the practical and logistical aspects of looking after a museum collection. My colleagues across the department have provided me with invaluable support and training. In addition to this, regular meetings with the other trainees have been truly insightful and I’ve developed a good understanding of the wider-workings of the museum, which has contextualised and enriched my 18 months at Tate.

Throughout the duration of my traineeship I have enjoyed the personal development experience via being a Tate trainee for Skils for the Future. I have enjoyed the personal development by accumulating new sets of practical skills and that applies to conservation. From the traineeship I was able to hone the skills I previously had from carpentry that provided me an increase in confidence on performing workshop methods on machining and general hand skills

I feel fortunate to have had the experience of working in this prestigious museum and to have worked alongside leading professionals from across all of the different departments involved with the exhibition and display of sculpture at Tate.

It has been an amazing 18 months working as a Trainee Photography Technician. The knowledge and skills that I have gained will help me greatly to progress in the photographic industry. The Photoshop skills that I have learnt whilst working here are going to help me so much in the future. A few opportunities that I have had here are digitising X-rays, assisting with photography at the Tate Stores and going on exciting location shoots. I can not thank the Tate enough for giving me this opportunity, I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!

I have benefited in a serious way from the traineeship, gaining very valuable skills to my chosen career path over the eighteen months. It has exposed me to fantastic work with exciting artworks and interesting and engaging co workers.  I am very grateful for this position, which has not only allowed me to have a job in difficult economic times, but to do what I am passionate about. 

This traineeship has been a wonderful opportunity to develop the knowledge and experience required to work efficiently within a large Art’s institution. It has provided the opportunity for me to develop and enhance my conservation, organisation and communication skills within a supported learning environment.

Working at Tate, I have been made to feel very much part of the team, which is due to the friendly openness and helpfulness of the staff in all departments. I now feel confident in my abilities and ready to implement all this exciting new found experience to further my career as a paintings conservator in the museum sector.

The traineeship has been a unique opportunity, gaining experience and insight into an area and practice I am fascinated by. There have been many opportunities to learn and apply skills in a wide ground of disciplines aswell as undertaking varying levels of responsibility in archiving and installation of artworks. The traineeship has been invaluable as time for development and as a platform in this field to progress from.

My time at Tate has been fantastic, I have learnt new skills, worked on engaging projects. It has been challenging but greatly rewarding. I believe the experiences I have gained have forged a strong platform from which I can build on in the future.