EVERY YEAR hundreds of art history students stare out of the window and wonder what they will do after they graduate. It is a daunting task, especially for those who have followed their passion for art without considering the more practical matters, such as finding a job.
One option is to work in a museum. If you think that museums only employ guards to stop people from touching the paintings, think again. Museums hire lots of people to fulfil a wide variety of positions. In Hong Kong last week to speak about the career opportunities offered by museums was Amy Horschak, who co-ordinates the educational programmes and internships at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
One of the world's most prestigious and influential museums, MoMA has involved students in its operations since it opened in 1929. In the early days students volunteered to help out at the museum and in exchange gained valuable insight into the profession.
In 1984, this informal apprenticeship was consolidated into a more formal programme. It is still running today and accepts students from around the world - including Hong Kong.
'After finishing school, I didn't know what jobs were available at the museum beyond that of security guard and teacher. This [the programme] is a real chance for students to get exposure from all the different elements of a museum,' said Ms Horschak.
Those wishing to join the programme must be in their third year of university or be graduate or post-graduate students. Each programme lasts 12 weeks, most are full-time and only a few are paid. But students do not join this programme to make money, it is an opportunity to see whether you enjoy and are well-suited to working in a museum.
