The Bowes Museum Blog

I have been a Curiosity Activator Volunteer at the Museum since early April, when the four new gallery spaces first opened. Although only a few weeks have passed, I have found introducing visitors to obscure objects, inspiring their creativity, encouraging exploration and learning alongside my fellow volunteers to be a thrilling and rewarding experience.

After completing my course in Museum Studies, I recently moved back to the North East and was keen to find new opportunities to expand my skillset. Whilst looking through the Museum’s website to see what exhibitions were currently on, I applied for the role of Curiosity Activator Volunteer for the upcoming ‘Curiosity’ project. I was excited at the prospect of providing visitors with the same wonderment and awe I discovered myself when I first walked in through the Museum’s doors.

As a volunteer, my main responsibility is to welcome and engage visitors, helping them to create unique and wonderful crafts and to foster genuine and insightful conversations. As the Curiosity Project’s main aim is to promote the stories behind the objects, it has been fascinating to hear the individual stories visitors bring themselves. From those who are already familiar with the Museum and have been mesmerised by the transformation of each space, to those arriving for the very first time, understanding what motives a visitor to come and ensuring they leave feeling fulfilled and cared for has been the most enjoyable aspect of my volunteering so far.

In addition to guiding and orientating visitors, I have also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my fellow volunteers. Having volunteered before in the past, I’m always conscious of how daunting it can be to join a new team. However, from the moment I began to discuss the role with Jess, the Museum’s Co-Production Volunteer Manager, and after attending presentations from previous volunteers, the training and support provided has been crucial in giving me the confidence to feel valued and to recognise my own contribution.

Many of the volunteers, including myself, take part in museum activities for a variety of reasons; a further step in personal and career development, access to exploring specific fields of interest and not only a social outlet, but an opportunity to bond with their local community.

In my case, the flexibility of alternating between volunteering for a whole day or only a single morning or afternoon has been crucial in regards to personal circumstances and commitments. Therefore, it’s important to remember that volunteering really is open to everyone and that combining different skills and expertise from beyond the museum sector is often what makes volunteering so uniquely enriching.

My time at The Bowes Museum so far has been wonderful and I can’t wait to see what activities, exhibitions and events this summer has in store!

Written by Alexander Stoakes, May 2024