Curatorial placement

You recently completed a professional placement at Buxton Contemporary, what did a normal day look like?

A working day consisted of sitting in team meetings, catching up with my supervisor, Art Museums Curator, Annika Aitken, and working on assigned tasks. During the installation period, it also involved a lot of walking around the gallery spaces and helping on-site.

What was it like bringing an exhibition to life behind the scenes?

As a curatorship student, it is always incredibly exciting to see a curatorial concept transform into a physical exhibition. The process involved extensive research, drafting exhibition texts, and examining how ideas interact with the physical gallery space, particularly the placement of artworks and texts.

I helped with research on three artist groups: Xiamen Dada, the Artist Salon of Southern China and the M Artist Group. I did a deep dive into archival and documentary sources in both English and Mandarin, and the research notes I compiled were then transformed into artwork labels. Notably, because the exhibition has many reproduced works, I also directly reproduced the printed reading materials by the New Measurement Group.

What skills did you develop that you didn't expect to?

I didn't expect to utilise so many editorial skills, with all the proofreading and drafting of bilingual texts. As a Chinese speaker, this exhibition was a really good opportunity for me to reflect on how contemporary art language translates between languages and cultural contexts and how to balance an institutional voice with a curator's personal style.

Who did you work closely with and what did you learn from them?

Annika was my supervisor and she is the BEST! I deeply appreciated the trust she placed in me with my assigned tasks, alongside the constructive feedback she provided. She taught me how to navigate an exhibition through a curator's lens, sharing valuable practical skills and methodologies, while offering excellent guidance on navigating a future career. Everyone on the team was incredibly welcoming, supportive, and generous with their professional expertise, making it a truly precious learning experience.

How did the real-world experience complement your study?

This was my first experience working within a museum setting. The placement allowed me to directly apply the skills I’ve been developing in my degree, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical operations. For example, I was able to assist with an acquisition proposal process, which directly complemented the Collection Management subject I undertook this semester.

How has your placement prepared you for the future?

Working on an exhibition of this scale made me more confident about my skills. I also got to learn how different departments collaborate with each other in a museum, which has given me a much clearer, more grounded perspective on what I want to pursue next.

Has the experienced change the way you think about a career in the arts?

It definitely highlighted just how many people, and how much specialised expertise, are required to deliver an exhibition. I really respect the dedication and hard work of the team.

What would you say to someone considering a professional placement at Buxton Contemporary?

It is a really valuable experience and I would definitely recommend it. It would be helpful to think from the start about what you want to get out of the placement, like the skills you want to learn and what aspects of an exhibition interest you the most. You will have opportunities to try things out while being guided by the best people.