The deadline for applications for this post has now passed.
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about caring for cultural heritage (particularly that of marginalised groups and cultures) to join our Lesbian Lives: Revealing Hidden Herstories project as an Archive / Heritage Apprentice. They will assist the Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL) Archivist on the Lesbian Lives project, supported by Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, Rewards Training and the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme, to digitise and interpret GWL’s LGBTQ resources, including the historic Lesbian Archives held at GWL. The collections form a significant part of GWL’s overall collection and are one of the most important collections of LGBTQ history in the UK.
Lesbian Lives: Revealing Hidden Herstories
A heritage project based at Glasgow Women’s Library, supported by Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, Rewards Training and the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme (from Skills Development Scotland).
Aims:
- To improve representation, information and interpretation of lesbian history and culture within the heritage sector. By caring for, documenting, interpreting and presenting the Lesbian Archive held at Glasgow Women’s Library.
- To interpret and present this history through a contemporary art commission.
- To provide a cultural heritage apprenticeship over 12 months, within Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL), learning a range of skills from an institution that stands out for its inclusive and important role within the heritage sector.
Archive / Heritage Apprenticeship
We are looking for someone who is passionate about caring for cultural heritage (particularly that of marginalised groups and cultures) and understands the power this has for contemporary society.
Although having some previous experience of archiving (whether this be voluntary or otherwise) may be advantageous, we are looking for a candidate that will make the most of this opportunity and aligns themselves with the values and practices of this project and Glasgow Women’s Library. As this apprenticeship has been designed to include a range of activities, learning opportunities and work-based training, we are more interested in your potential and ability to utilise this opportunity, rather than an academic or professional history.
We are particularly interested in receiving applications from people who are currently underrepresented within the creative, cultural and heritage sectors. This includes people from a BAME background, those from the LGBTQ+ community, disabled and neurodiverse people, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The successful candidate will receive:
- Foundational training in archives, by GWL’s archivist. Please note, this is not ARA certified and therefore candidates would need further training before becoming a qualified archivist. However, this post has been designed to give the training and experience needed to achieve an assistant archivist role, post-apprenticeship.
- Level 6 SCQF in Cultural Venue Operations, supported by Rewards Training through visits, assistance and guidance.
- Mentoring and support from the Library as a whole; including shadowing opportunities.
- Opportunity to support and work with a contemporary artist during a commission, residency and exhibition.
- Opportunity to curate a small exhibition of their own, using materials from the archive to contextualise the aforementioned exhibition.
- Small budget for CPD (Continuing Professional Development).
The Apprentice will work three days per week within the Archive, with support from the GWL Archivist. One day per week will be spent shadowing and working alongside colleagues throughout Glasgow Women’s Library, in order to get a broader understanding of working within a cultural heritage institution. One day per week will be spent focussing on the qualification.
Cultural Venue Operations Modern Apprenticeship (SCQF L6)
This qualification is delivered by Rewards Training in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and includes the CVO SVQ at SCQF L6 and Core Skills at L6. The successful candidate must be eligible for SDS funding and is not age-restrictive. The Apprenticeship has been designed to include a mix of face to face assessment visits with a qualified Rewards assessor / trainer and remote assessment visits over a 12-month period with a review of progress every 12 weeks.
The qualification includes five mandatory units & four units of the Apprentice’s choice. Mandatory units are as follows:
- Support the organisation of an event
- Assist with incidents and emergency procedures
- Solve business problems
- Contribute to decision-making in a business environment
- Ensure responsibility for actions to reduce risks to health and safety
For further information on the qualification and optional units, please visit: https://www.rewardstraining.com/diploma-in-cultural-venue-operations
Please note, this apprenticeship does not come with a guarantee of further employment.
Job Description, Person Specification and Application Form
Job Description: Archive / Heritage Apprentice
Hours of work: 35 hours per week
Salary: £21,840
Holidays: 25 days per annum plus 12 public holidays
Reporting to: Glasgow Women’s Library Archivist
Main Purpose: To assist the Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL) Archivist on a project supported by Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, Rewards Training and the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme to digitise and interpret GWL’s LGBTQ resources, including the historic Lesbian Archives held at GWL. The collections form a significant part of GWL’s overall collection and are one of the most important collections of LGBTQ history in the UK.
Fixed Term Contract, 14th Oct 2019 until 16th Oct 2020
This post is for women only under Schedule 9 part 1 of the Equality Act 2010
Download:
- Job Description & Person Specification Archive/Heritage Apprentice
- Archive/Heritage Apprentice Application Form (Part One)
- Archive/Heritage Apprentice Application Form (Part Two)
Please return both parts of the application form to: Freya Monk-McGowan, Project Curator, Glasgow Women’s Library at freya.monk.mcgowan@womenslibrary.org.uk
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 1st September 2019
Interviews will be held week commencing 9th September 2019