Story Museum internship – Autumn/Winter 2017
Do you like stories?Are you full of enthusiasm and ideas? Would you like to be part of an exciting new museum project from the beginning?
a new museum – unlike any other
The Story Museum celebrates the power of story in all its forms,at our museum-in-the-makingon Pembroke Street – just a stone’s throw from some of Oxford’s most famous literary haunts – and out in schools and the community. Over the next two years, our large and dilapidated building will be transformed into a magical spaceto re-open to the public in Spring2019. Writers, artists, children, young people, teachers and volunteers will all be involved in shaping the future Museum.
wanted – curiosity, imagination, creative and practical skills
We are looking fora dynamic and enthusiastic intern to support the delivery of the autumn programme of events by
-helping to devise and create activities to run alongside the programmed activities
-assisting with the delivery of activities to the general public and school visits
-supporting the marketing and communications team to message the offer to a targeted customer base through print and digital formats
-workingwith the operations team to set up the museum spaces ready for activities and private hires
-working front of house alongside the Story Guides and volunteers to help maximise the visitor experience
-helping collect visitor data to support our learnings regarding visitor expectations and trends
You’ll be a willing learner, keen to understand the aims of the Museum and to contribute your skills, able to work independently and collaboratively – and happy to take on whatever task comes your way.
We are looking for 1intern to be available for 4-5 days a week for approximately 3 months until Christmas.
what’s in it for you
This is an unpaid voluntary position however if you have barista skills we may be able to utilise your skills on a paid basis in our shop and café. In addition you’ll gain insights into the worlds of museums and cultural development, of charitable and business enterprise. You’ll meet a wonderful variety of people, from oral storytellers to film-makers, from school children to leaders of the city, from famous authors to philanthropists. Work will range from challenging to menial but no two days are the same. You’ll make new contacts and acquire knowledge and skills which should brighten your career prospects as well as your day.
about the Story Museum
The Story Museum is a registered charity and non-profit company founded in 2003 to:
i)establish and maintain a museum dedicated to children's literature and the city of Oxford
ii)conserve, interpret and develop collections and heritage assets relevant to these subjects
iii)provide learning opportunities and promote literacy and creativity among children, young people and families.
Our vision is to enrich lives, especially young lives, through story. We are working to achieve this by developing a most unusual museum in Oxford that collects and shares great ways of engaging with great stories.
In 2009, following several years of research and pilot projects, we acquired a 2,000 sqm dilapidated and atmospheric building in the centre of Oxford and began planning its transformation into a permanent home. From 2011-13 we experimented with pop-up exhibitions and events in the space whilst developing our masterplan and raising funds to progress the project. In April 2014 we opened the first phase of the Museum to the public for a 6-day-a -week operation. Since then we have welcomed over 100,000 visitors and delivered nearly 1,000 different events and activities across a wide-ranging learning and engagement programme.
Now, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and several major private gifts, we are progressing the next phase of our redevelopment which will complete the Museum, bringing it into full operation in 2019 with the capacity to welcome over 100,000 visitors per year.
For further information see
what we’re looking for
- A friendly outgoing personality, enthusiasm and the confidence to speak in front of groups of people
- Good customer service skills
- Some previous acting, storytelling or teaching experience would be an advantage
- A sense of humour… which doesn’t even leave you under pressure.
- A positive attitude and willingness to try new things
- An interest in stories and the work of the Museum
- Good written and spoken English
- Relevant degree desirable, A levels essential
- Good organisational skills: you’ll need to prioritise a busy workload and meet tight deadlines.
- Wizard IT and typing skills (MS Office Suite)
- Some weekend availability
how to apply
Please complete the application form, save it as a pdf and rename it with your name and the reference MIAut17 as the file name. Then email it to SarahFussell, Operations Manager . If you cannot do this, please post your completed form to Sarah Fussell, The Story Museum, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP.