Gallery volunteering

An image of Studio 3 at the University of KentThis week I completed my first shift as an invigilator at the Studio 3 Gallery, which was really enjoyable. It is an opportunity for volunteering open to all students, and in particular those within the School of Arts and those studying Art History. During a typical shift, students will look after the gallery space and be a friendly face for visitors, take charge of the exhibition catalogues which are for sale, log visitor numbers, and take the light and temperature readings. There are other roles available too, which can include assisting with special events and even the marketing of the gallery. All of these activities count towards the university’s Employability Points scheme and are a rewarding experience for anyone wanting to be involved with art galleries or museums in the future.

The gallery, situated within the School of Arts (Jarman Building), is currently home to the Capturing Movement exhibition. Open to the public on weekdays and curated by this year’s MA Curating students, it is a collection of photography, screen prints, paintings and sculpture celebrating the theme of dance. Now to be honest I am a bit of a museum junkie so I always love the atmosphere of a gallery, and I have really enjoyed being a visitor to Studio 3. The Transition Series of photographs by Belinda Whiting are a favourite of mine – six black and white prints each featuring nine smaller images of a dancer in movement, taken from video stills. Also, two bronzes by sculptor John Brown which look amazing as a pair, although they depict two very different styles of dance – break dancing and tango. There is a lot more to see in Capturing Movement but I can’t give too much away, you really need to visit for yourself! It is open until 1st December.

 

This post is by Ben Dawkins