Our busy team at The Lightbox is made up of lots of different departments; from our Exhibitions team, Learning and Engagement team, Front of House team, Marketing team, to our Café team. We thought what better way to get to know everyone and gain an insight into what it’s like to work at a gallery and museum, than by doing a monthly blog. This week we chatted to Heather, our Senior Learning and Engagement Officer about her role and her favourite moments during her time at The Lightbox. 

Tell us a little about yourself, how did you come to work in the in the Learning and Engagement team?
My way to The Lightbox has been a varied one. I studied as a Museum and Exhibition Designer and found that I was much more interested in the interactive elements for people to learn in galleries. I then completed a masters degree whilst doing an internship at The Lightbox before the building was open. I worked in events for a long while before volunteering in museums and providing my own workshops, which led me to getting the role here.

What do you enjoy most about your role as Senior Learning and Engagement Officer?
I really enjoy the variety of the work we do, as we work with children from a few months old, young people and right through to adults later on in life, so we see the gallery through their eyes just as much as our own. I am fascinated by the history of the local area and have always loved art and so it really is a great way for me to learn more and explore along the way. Due to our changing exhibition programme I am able to research about so many more subjects which range from Renoir to Comics, you really can’t beat that.

Are there any challenges in your role?
Exploring the gallery is always going to bring different opinions which I’ve always seen as a great challenge. I love the idea of being able to change visitors’ perception of art and if not, then they may have learnt something they didn’t know before.  Art is so subjective and it’s just as important to know what you don’t like as what you do like. I love the idea of choosing the artwork that you would have in your house, as it always divides opinion.

What has been your most memorable moment during your time at The Lightbox?
So, so many, as children often come up with the best comments as they do not hold back from what they think.  One of my most memorable projects was the Young Curators work for the Alien Invasion exhibition.  A group of Young people designed and made their own Aliens with help from a Film Prop maker and then put them in the visitor lift.  Whenever anyone used the lift they were fully immersed in the Aliens coming and so knew the exhibition was going to be just as much fun.

Find out more about workshops for children and adults here.