I undertook the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies to help push me along the career path of my dreams. I didn’t imagine the extent that I would grow throughout the programme. The intensive nature of the course meant I really pushed and applied myself. The Master’s programme hugely helped me to increase my confidence and realise my potential, for which I am extremely grateful.

During the degree I focused my energy on learning about public art galleries, in theory and in practice. With a background in social work, I was delighted to find synergies between public participation and social justice and museums. My interest in community development and visual art led me to complete a dissertation on the practice and evaluation of social inclusion in public art galleries. Undertaking the dissertation was a challenging, stimulating and satisfying experience.

I appreciated the flexibility of the course. The elective papers allowed me to take up an Honours level Art History paper on art and postcolonial theory. This was a fascinating and worthwhile challenge, as I had not studied any undergraduate Art History papers previously. I did as many placement hours as I could, opting to take the Project paper, and therefore undertaking a total of 900 voluntary hours. These hours were spent at the City Arts team of Wellington City Council, City Gallery Wellington, Pataka Art + Museum, and Arts Access Aotearoa. I gained a vast wealth of experience in exhibition development, collections, gallery communications and public programmes.

In November 2014 I was appointed Gallery Manager for the Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) in Christchurch. This gallery had been closed for repair following the 2011 Canterbury earthquake and opened again in February 2016 with a new strategic vision.

In 2016 I took the opportunity to help Invercargill Public Art Gallery open a temporary gallery in the inner city (after being closed for 2 years due to building safety) so the public could engage with the collection again. I was fortunate to again be part of a revisioning process and provide exciting new opportunities for audience engagement through co-curated exhibitions.

I am now living in Hobart and applying my communications and engagement skills to my role as Research Communications Officer at the University of Tasmania.