At Staithes Museum, we believe that practical experience is one of the best ways for young people to learn and grow.
That’s why we offer flexible work experience placements that allow students to immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of a working museum. Our placements are tailored to match each student’s interests and strengths, ensuring they gain useful skills and an unforgettable experience.
We know that every young person’s goals and passions are different. To show just how adaptable our placements can be, we’ve shared two examples that we have already planned: a placement for a GCSE pupil and a placement for a university student studying museum studies. These demonstrate the variety of activities we offer and the ways we customise placements to suit each individual.
What Can Work Experience Students Do at Staithes Museum?
From exploring our historic exhibits to learning how the museum operates behind the scenes, work experience students can take part in a wide range of activities, including:
Guiding Visitors: Learning how to welcome visitors, share interesting facts about exhibits, and answer their questions.
Shop Experience: Gaining customer service skills by helping in our museum shop, from serving customers on the till to learning about merchandising.
Researching Exhibits: Choosing a favourite object in the collection, researching its story, and learning how to present it to visitors.
Writing Projects: Creating an article for our newsletter, which is read by hundreds of people, to reflect on their placement and share their personal insights.
Behind-the-Scenes Work: Understanding how museum operations, like accessioning and exhibit planning, happen day-to-day.
What About University Placements?
For university students, our placements are tailored to provide in-depth, hands-on learning experiences and are often part of their accredited courses. In a small museum like ours, museum studies students can gain real-world practical experience while contributing meaningfully to the museum.
Activities for university students include:
Collections Management: Cataloguing, documenting, and condition reporting objects.
Exhibition Development: Researching themes, writing interpretive labels, and planning display layouts.
Digital Engagement: Creating social media content, developing virtual exhibitions, and improving SEO for museum outreach.
Community Engagement: Supporting volunteer coordination, visitor tours, and outreach projects for schools.
Research and Interpretation: Investigating the history of objects and producing content for museum publications.
We ensure that university placements are impactful, both for the student’s professional development and for the museum’s ongoing projects. Weekly progress meetings, structured goals, and flexible formats (in-person, blended, or online) make this a truly adaptable experience.
Tailored to the Individual
We work closely with each student to ensure their placement is not only educational but also enjoyable. If a student has a particular area of interest, such as local history or digital engagement, we can incorporate that into their timetable.
Placements at Staithes Museum are about more than just learning – they’re about making meaningful contributions to the museum and becoming a valued member of the team.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’re interested in work experience or a university placement at Staithes Museum, we’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re looking to explore a future career in museums or simply want to try something new, we’re here to create an experience that’s just right for you.
Comments