The conservation department as a whole was very welcoming and friendly. The painting conservators were all very knowledgeable and helpful whenever I had any questions. I performed a cleaning treatment on a painting that provided a wealth of new experiences. The Museum has an amazing collection that enabled me to look at a variety of painting conditions and materials.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Cafe staff
October 2019 - June 2020 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
The Best Cafe has great hours to work, a fun staff of mostly recent graduates, and managers that are open and easy to access. I enjoyed that the position had a lighter workload than other food service jobs and additional promotional opportunities to visit new exhibitions at a lower (or free of cost) rate.
What I wish was different
The HR department that oversaw Best Cafe employees did little to resolve problems between employees and was not responsive to complaints including significant complaints of sexual harassment. I often felt that our department was not of much concern to the VMFA as a whole.
Advice
I think this is a great part-time job. I would avoid working at the Best Cafe as a full-time employee or for an extended amount of time since higher departments don't tend to listen to or resolve issues of hourly workers.
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Advancement and Development Intern
June - August 2018 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
I really enjoyed the work environment of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was great to be at a wonderful museum that I admired.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been able to work their longer.
Advice
Persistence is key to achieving a goal like this, and once you get there, make sure to meet as many people as possible.
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Intern
June - August 2017 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
I really enjoyed the ways in which a museum internship exposed me to many different facets of a work environment. I did some marketing, fundraising, research and hands-on working with kids. In addition to learning about upcoming exhibitions, sitting in on curatorial talks and integrating my art history knowledge into the experience.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had a little more explicit clarity between the time spent in each department.
Advice
I would advise future interns to look out for all the things happening around the museum during your time and make as many connections as possible. My supervisor, Paula was very good about introducing me to different people based on my expressed interests to her.
