Finished!

Well my hours are done and dusted and I couldn't be happier.

240 is a trying amount of hours to get done in one semester and if I had my time over, I think I would do my internship to go over two semesters or something along those lines. It's been quite difficult to manage this, writing a massive research paper and working at my 2 paid jobs... all since early July. Then again, one semester, less hours would be nice too!

I have really enjoyed this internship, and while my hours are up I am actually staying on the project (not as intensely because I can't actually afford to anymore!) to assist with the rest of the museum plan. I figure it is something that my name is attached to and I do want to do a good job.

My supervisor has also mentioned future paid work at the start of next year, however it wouldn't be full-time and permanent. I said I would think about it, but perhaps I could do it as a side job as well? Right now I want to get into the workforce and use my degrees that I've spent 6 years getting, so a temporary-non-full-time position isn't really ideal, but we'll see.

I've learnt a lot about community consultation, writing reports, working with independent contractors, STATISTICS, collating data, focus groups, surveys etc. My supervisor said that this was a similar process to doing a PhD and that I would be well prepared to take it on afterwards. Hmm... maybe in a few years? I think for now my academic side needs a holiday!

Well I'm still preoccupied with these survey tables and graphs, but the good news is I'm almost there!

This has probably been the most challenging task of my internship, mainly because my brain simply struggles with seemingly simply mathematics! It is interesting seeing all the data clearly, it's just getting there that is slightly frustrating, especially when my version of Word appears to be sick of it too! (It has crashed a few times on me so far...)

I realise this post is probably similar to the last one as I'm still working on the same thing I was last week, so it will be kept nice and brief... on a positive note, I have about 10 more official hours to go until I will have clocked the required 240 hurrah!

My question to anyone who comes across this post, are there any more official admin things we have to do to have our internship 'signed off' by COFA, once we have completed our official hours? I would hate to miss a particular deadline after doing 240 hours of voluntary work in one semester!

Home stretch

I met with my supervisor again last week and she estimated that we're over 2/3 of the way through the museum plan... YAY! I'm about to get stuck in to collating the survey data, which is actually quite mathematical so I'm not too sure how my creatively inclined brain will manage this task! It's a whole lot of statistical analysis, which is interesting because it shows the raw data of what people in the region have been saying about a new museum there. It will take a fair bit of time to create all the tables though, as she recruited a biometrician to obtain the stats from the perspective of gender, age and whether or not they live on a farm. So that equates to roughly 60 tables.... yikes. The good news is that I'm getting my hours down, which right now is up there on my list of priorities... while I aim to finish my 240 required hours in the next three - four weeks, I will most likely stay on the project until December when they present the plan for discussion and comment to the Council. My supervisor has also said that I could potentially present some of my findings to the Council/local community, which would be a really great (unpaid) experience. We're almost there!

surveys, data, reviews

This week has been more productive than last week; I have managed to get a lot done already (and it's only Wednesday!). I am still trucking along with the literature review (word count now exceeds the research paper limit, by the way) and I have added in the necessary extra sections my supervisor wanted me to include. I have also finished summarising the raw data from the survey conducted by the council. The results were interesting to say the least. One such question asked about the effects of climate change, with a considerable percentage of people surveyed saying that they don't believe that global climate change exists!!! Thankfully the majority of people acknowledge it as a problem in our society. Interesting to say the least...

I have also tried to get in contact with the Aboriginal elders my supervisor wants me to interview. She warned me they might be hard to track down as they often have a different perception of time; she even suggested that sometimes you just have to 'rock up' and try your luck with who's there! I don't know if I'm keen to sit in a car for four hours for the chance I might interview someone... Emailing and liaising will suffice for now!

I have knocked off more hours as well, which is good. I'm now down to the '75 hours to go' mark. I aim to have all my hours down hopefully in the next three to four weeks, to coincide with the end of semester. One thing is for sure, I don't want to carry the hours over to an August graduation. Until I hear back from the Wiradjuri men, at least I can utilise my 'free' time to work on the research paper.

The literature review that never ends

I'm a little overwhelmed this week; my supervisor has given me so many more additional jobs to complete and trying to do all of this, finish research paper assessments, work two separate casual jobs for actual money, and maintain a semblance of a social life is becoming increasingly difficult! I figure I can rant on here as pretty much everyone in the Art Admin program is in the same boat on this one!

I am STILL working on the literature review for the museum plan. When I think it's done I get another email which says to add in another section on something else and so on. It's rapidly approaching the 10,000 word mark! In addition, I have to go and sit in on interviews my supervisor is conducting for another project out at Windsor Library week after next, as I then have to return to the country to conduct a couple of interviews with some Aboriginal people from the Wiradjuri tribe. Not too sure when yet, but it'll be sometime in the next month. It's great that I'm being given the independence and responsibility to do this on my own; however I'm starting to get a little stressed with only 4 weeks until the draft of our paper is due in. At least I'm well and truly passed the half way mark with hours. 240 is A LOT and thankfully I only have about 100 remaining.

It's a good thing I booked myself on a holiday for two weeks in November, I think I'm going to need the time off!

Ten weeks of interning completed... many more to go!

I can't believe it has been ten weeks already since I started working with my supervisor on this project. It doesn't feel like that long at all!

I met with my supervisor again this morning to go over what I have already done and what is left to do. She explained it like we're working in a pyramid format, building and collating information and research to build our case, which will eventually be presented to government and other funding bodies. It's quite exciting to know that the work I'm doing will become the foundation for the museum. It is a lot of work though; I tend to think that I am going to need much stronger reading glasses at the end of this internship as I spend most of my time staring at my computer screen or reading piles of documents! As I am framing my research paper around aspects of my internship, I am saving myself a lot of time researching an unfamiliar topic. Two birds, one stone... it's working out alright for the time being at least!

Next thing I have to do is add to the massive literature review I have been working on for the past two months (!) - I need to add in extra sections that mention certain funding and government bodies, such as the Federal Government, the State Government, Arts NSW and M&G NSW. The way this was explained to me is basically when the museum plan is presented for funding purposes to these people, it helps to 'stroke the ego' of their organisations by mentioning them by name within the body of the plan. It makes sense and I guess will help in the case for building a new museum in the regional area we are working with.

I am more than happy to continue working on it, as I am learning so much and acquiring a lot of knowledge about this side of the museum sector, but part of me seriously thought I had bid adieu to the 7,000+ word lit review; with everything I have to add in, it will probably grow to be longer than my research paper!

We also have the final data from the survey, which was distributed online and amongst the community - around 550 people completed it, so there will be (hopefully) a wide spread of demographics and responses to the questions. Another job I have is to summarise the answers to the survey questions, which will then be compiled with the focus group responses to form one large sample to put forward in the museum plan.

At least with all of these jobs I will have no problem accruing hours for the course - 100 hours down, 140 to go and counting!

Focus group data collation

I have started putting together the data from the focus groups (which were largely done before I started). It is kind of tricky because on some of the transcripts, some of the numerical data does not add up, i.e. with the number of participants matching the numbers given with age brackets. I can't exactly make up data so I think I will have to leave that part for the moment until I discuss it with my supervisor. It is frustrating not being able to just get on with it, but I guess I can use it as an opportunity to work on other aspects of the museum plan.


On another note, does anyone have any suggestions for how to make a good table? Would it be best to do one in Excel or just make it up in a Word Doc? I'm not the best when it comes to 'advanced' things such as mathematically based tables dealing with percentages and what not. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Literature review - CHECK

At the end of last week, I (finally) finished the literature review I have been working on for the past five weeks or so. It has been a monumental task (over 7,000 words... yuck!), especially considering I am in the midst of now writing the literature review for my research paper... at least this one only has to be 2,000 words I guess!

It was a big job but I'm happy with the end result. I just have to wait for my supervisor to read/proof everything and then I can move on to my next job, which is collating, analysing and making up graphs and tables for all of the focus group info. The focus groups were largely done before I joined the team; however, I think it will be interesting to go through and read the responses - particularly the school kids... Some of their suggestions I have read so far include things like a UFO space station and a place where kids can dig up dinosaur bones... in the museum. Very cute!

I'm glad to have finished the first part and it's satisfying to know that I can write 'close' to 10,000 words, as I will be needing to do just that in the next six weeks!

Considering Indigenous communities

I am currently writing up the last sections (almost there!) of the literature review, which is an essential component of the museum plan structure. I am partway through researching the heritage of the region, for which I have to also incorporate the Indigenous heritage as well. Reading about it is particularly interesting, as I previously didn't have much knowledge of it. The Wiradjuri people, the largest indigenous nation in NSW, had the most unique customs, including the carving of trees to mark burial sites. As settlement occurred in the mid 19th century, it should be no surprise that many of these trees were destroyed to make way for urban centres, forestry and general destruction of the landscape. Less than 100 of these trees still exist in their original sites, with the carvings facing the burial site to warn passersby that the site holds spiritual significance.

I found this to be particularly interesting, which surprised me to be perfectly honest, as indigenous art forms, etc has never had an immediate impact on me. I am really enjoying researching this and then recognising the juxtaposition of reporting on indigenous heritage, immediately followed in my review by settlement heritage, which focusses a lot on the Gold Rush of the 1850s. I guess the destruction of one culture has often meant, historically speaking, the thriving and survival of another.

Considering all of this, and I guess many modern and contemporary art institutions, it is a good thing that the traditional Aboriginal landowners are taken into consideration in this museum plan, as they rightly should be. Museums are, after all, a place where we can learn from history.

Community consultation

Today I got home from the country; it was a long trip, but produced some good results that will definitely help in these early research stages of the museum plan. Plus, I got to visit my grandparents, which was an added bonus!

I facilitated a relatively small focus group of seven local women between the ages of 65 and 80 (roughly), including my grandmother who has lived in this particular regional community for 50 years. I decided to keep it relatively informal, to allow for questions and a nice open discussion. They were all very willing participants who gave some really great insight and offered up their interesting suggestions for what they would like to see in a regional museum. Not surprisingly, a good cafe was a bottom line for many of them! I was quite surprised, actually to discover that for some of them they wouldn't consider visiting unless the museum offered such amenities. These are all things I will put in my report to give to my supervisor.

I also gave the ladies a brief overview of the project so far and also outlined that the museum plan I am currently working on with my supervisor will be available in draft format (when it's done, of course) for community comment and discussion. This fact seemed to ease them a little bit and I guess make them slightly more relaxed with their answers.

This was a really great experience to have and I am grateful to my grandmother for getting some of her friends together to participate. It was really fantastic to lead the discussion and I think will help me in the future if and when I need to do something like this again.

Discussion

This morning I met again with my internship supervisor. It was really great to get positive feedback about the writing I have been doing so far to assist with the development of the Museum Plan. In addition, we also discussed my impending trip to regional NSW (I have not secured permission to discuss names, details, etc, so from here on out, let's refer to the 'regional city' in which the museum will be built as 'RC' - so creative!).

So...I am heading to the RC next Wednesday to facilitate a community discussion in the form of a focus group with my grandmother and some of her friends. This will be a great learning experience and should produce some interesting comments and feedback at the very least. I am sure I will be met with not only conflicting views on the development of the museum (traditionally, elderly people are adverse to change), but also very strong opinions from some of these local folk. I am all set and ready to go - I have my questions ready to ask and forms for them to complete - wish me luck!

Task one is complete! Now to start another...

Today I finished the first task my supervisor set for me; "Part A" of a literature review we have to include in the Museum Plan. It was a really interesting task (surprisingly so, actually) and having to write so much (effectively the length of a major university essay) has me in a good place for commencing my research paper. Like riding a bike, don't you think?! (Below is the aftermath...)

This part of the literature review involved researching and writing on current museum trends, museums and sustainability, and several museum case studies including regional centres such as Wagga Wagga and Newcastle. I would like to add that I have finally got the hang of in-text referencing, I can't believe it took me six years to figure it out!

The next part of the literature review I have to work on is more closely related to the region where the proposed museum will reside. This will involve a lot of reference to the ABS 2011 census data as well as how far the council has come since initiating this museum development plan almost a decade ago. I think it will be an interesting exercise, as I will have to analyse past proposals and plans from people previously associated with the project. Overall I think it will give me a greater depth of understanding for the project, and just how hard the local community is working to get it up and running.

In addition to working on "Part B" of the literature review, I am also planning on visiting the region (hopefully in the next few weeks). The purpose of that trip will be to conduct a focus group with my grandparents and some of their contemporaries (i.e. cards ladies and fellow rotarians). Prior to this I will meet with my supervisor to determine the types of questions I will be required to ask and how to conduct the session.

Until next time, I am going to leave you all with a little visual treat! This was a promotional advertisement for the Newcastle Museum, prior to its official opening in August 2011. I wonder who their target demographic is?!

Melbourne!

I know this is not entirely related to my internship, but I really want to write about my recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria to see Napoleon. If anyone has a chance to get down there before it finishes, go and see this exhibition. 

It is sensational. 

Napoleon is possibly one of the most beautifully designed exhibitions I have seen in a long time. The beautiful portraits and battle scenes of Napoleon and his fellow Frenchmen are exquisite. The layout of the exhibition is similar to the recent AGNSW Picasso show - chronological and relies heavily on historical narrative. This doesn't detract from the paintings of David et al., instead adding more depth and allowing a greater understanding and appreciation for this defining era in modern French history. In addition, Napoleon managed to link with local history, regarding the newly discovered New Holland (Australia). Battlefields and portraits of aristocrats are broken up with delicate sketches of native flora and fauna, as well as artifacts from the former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Josephine. Not a single detail was forgotten in this magnificent blockbuster; fleur-de-lis adorned the white walls creating a subtle wall print (an artwork in its own right), adding to the overall theme of the exhibition. Even the cafe's and the upstairs Tea Room weren't forgotten in the French overhaul of the Gallery; they had special table settings and monogrammed serviettes.

C'est magnifique!

Pen to paper.

After a few weeks of readings and getting up to date on the project, I began writing some of the initial sections of the literature review component of the museum plan. Though it seems like a simple task, the first section took me most of the day to complete only the first draft (being a bit of a perfectionist comes in to play a bit here, I think!) In saying this, I have plenty of time allocated to work on it, so I would rather try and make the first drafts more well rounded and complete than patchy and merely ideas sprawled on a page.

One thing I am finding a little challenging is mastering the Harvard in-text referencing system - I am a long time user of footnotes and endnotes, so this is quite new to me! This is the preferred system of referencing for my supervisor, so I will need to do a bit of a crash course so everything is uniform in the museum plan. I'll get the hang of it eventually, I'm sure.

I plan to continue working on this first section of the lit review again tomorrow - a change of scenery, perhaps? I'm still getting used to working from home, as there is no set 'office' environment. I quite like this, though - I don't have to deal with office politics and gossip, for example and can get straight to the business end of things, so to speak. Being able to wear comfy uggs doesn't hurt either!

Meet & greet... getting started.

Today I met with my internship supervisor (the Museum Advisor to the regional council). We discussed the project and previous work she has done which will help in developing this museum plan. It was great to discuss in person the role I will play as part of my internship as well; I feel like I now have a bit more clarity with what is not only expected of me in this position, but also what I think I will gain from the experience.

My first task is to research and write, from an academic perspective, on current world museum trends, sustainability and museums, as well as assisting with a literature review of past plans and proposals from other regional sites. I also have to compile a summary of the general background of the regions that the proposed museum will service, including the regional city in which it will reside. To do this, I will need to access the most recent census data, which will hopefully be available to the public shortly.

My supervisor is planning to visit the regional city and meet again with the council at the end of the month, however this is yet to be confirmed. Should the dates and times suit, I will be joining in on the meeting. This will be a good opportunity to meet with the people who have been working hard on this project for several years. I am also planning to head out to the region, as I have family who live there and plan to conduct a focus group with (hopefully!) my grandmother and a handful of her friends from town. I'm sure I won't be short of willing participants as my grandparents have been living in this part of NSW for close to 50 years; needless to say, they know many people in the community there.

I look forward to starting the research and initiating the reporting process. It will be a challenging task, but I know I will learn a lot and will have the added satisfaction of having my own input on an official museum plan.

Internship procured!

Well, after much searching, I have managed to secure my internship placement!

I will be assisting a Museum Advisor to a regional council for the proposed development of a new regional museum. My supervisor discussed the project in detail with me earlier in the week and it sounds like it will be an exciting project, which will entail direct contact and engagement with the local community and surrounding towns and regional centres.

I am looking forward to starting this project and I think I will learn a lot from the experience, including dealing with regional councils, communities, and writing official proposals.

I am due to start in a couple of weeks, but I already have some reading to do in relation to the project to bring me up to speed with what my supervisor has been working on thus far. This project is so different to a traditional museum internship, which I had initially intended to undertake. For the purpose of this component of the Art Administration degree, I think it will be a really great learning curve; working on something that will eventuate in something so beneficial for a regional NSW community will I think be a really rewarding experience.