The Bowes Museum Blog

WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A GUIDE AT THE BOWES MUSEUM?

It’s fantastic, fascinating and fun!

The 20+ guides come from all sorts of backgrounds. Some were teachers and were used to standing up in front of people, some had little or no such experience, some have arts backgrounds, while, for others, it was simply enjoying a nice painting! Many had never dreamt of becoming a guide until they learned a little more about it and then took the plunge!

Some of the new guide recruits tell us it can feel a bit daunting at first. But no need to worry as we support new recruits through a very friendly and relaxed induction path, which is suited to each recruit. Proof of this is that it is very rare for a new guide to leave; some of our guides have been here for 30+ years.

Being a guide can be very rewarding personally; telling the story of how the Museum grew from a romance between a rich Northerner and a young French actress, the connection of the Museum to the British Royal Family and then introducing visitors to a selection from the Museum’s beautiful collections is a lovely way to spend an hour, especially as many visitors ask for more.

Guiding also enables you to expand your interest in and knowledge of the world of art because there is so much to learn from in front of your eyes. But beware, It can become almost an obsession when you get into this world!

Written by Ray Morris, May 2024