Lorna Hedley

Production Assistant (Visitor Journey) at Historic Royal Palaces

Course: MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies, Full Time, 2015-16

Studying Art Gallery and Museum Studies not only helped me to consolidate my educational and career direction but was also a fantastic year that gave me a real insight into the theory and practice of museums. I got to meet lots of like-minded people and get involved in a variety of projects that covered all aspects of museums, from managing collections to learning and engagement programmes.

I was particularly interested in the Digital Heritage module as I did my undergraduate degree in Interactive Media Design. I already had the skills in designing for digital media but was unsure how this could relate to museums and heritage, which had been a passion of mine for many years. Digital Heritage offered me the chance to learn and put into practice my digital skills and gave me more confidence in my ability to interpret objects and stories. I also gained practical skills by getting hands-on experience with a variety of projects, such as creating digital trails for the Manchester Museum and developing an online photography game for the Manchester Histories Festival.

The placement module was one of the main reasons I took Art Gallery and Museum Studies, in order to gain real workplace experience. This was extremely valuable in giving me an added boost in practical experience for starting my career in the museum and heritage sector.

I am now working as a Production Assistant with the Historic Royal Palaces, and as part of my role I organise and publish content onto the new Digital Audio Guides at Hampton Court Palace, as part of the digital change programme. I am thrilled with this position and it is with thanks to the course for giving me the skills and experience I needed to secure this job.