Nicole Smith Professor Evenden Arts & Arts Administration Internship Tutorial 21 October 2010 Assignment #1: The

Foundling Museum For the next two months I will be working in an internship position with the Foundling Museum in London. The museum, which chronicles and celebrates the founding and history of the Foundling Hospital in London is unique in that it is really three museums in one. Firstly. The Foundling Museum tells the story of the work of Captain Thomas Coram, his dream to establish a charitable hospital and home for exposed or abandoned children and the subsequent founding of the hospital in 1739. Secondly the museum is a preserve of Britains first great public art collection showcased in original period interiors as the collection would have been displayed in the Foundling Hospital, including works by Hograth, Reynolds and Gainsborough. Thirdly, the museum is host to one of the most extensive private collections of 18th century composer George Fredric Handel memorabilia, musical works and writings. The museum also strives to work closely with the Coram Family, an independent modern day charity rooted in the foundations of the original Foundling Hospital, to ensure that vulnerable and socially excluded children and their families are continuously involved in the museums activities as their stories become part of the ongoing history of charitable childcare in London. The museum tells and fascinating and inspirational story of one of Londons proudest achievements. It narrates the moving history of the lives of foundling children and their

Smith 2 absent parents, celebrates the work and art of those who supported the hospitals success, and maintains an active role in supporting the welfare of children. According to the museums mission statement, The Foundling Museum is faced with the responsibility of securing the long-term preservation of the historic Foundling Hospital collection for the education and enjoyment of future generations. This includes the history of Thomas Coram and the hospitals founding, the stories of the hospitals children and their absent families, the art collection and artists history, the period rooms, dcor and furniture of the original hospital, and the present day work of charity organizations in London. As a private organization, the museum does not receive much in the way of public funding, but instead relies on private sponsorship, donations and revenue to keep the museum up and running. The sustainability of private funding is dependent upon the museums dedication and adherence to the mission statement set forth, and the successfulness of these undertakings. The museum must also maintain its validity as a current and progressive body that in some way gives back to or enhances the community and therefore, the Foundling Museum aims to highlight the importance of its roles beyond the history of the hospital and into present day charity works. The museum hosts a wide-range of family-friendly events and activities, runs education day programs of school groups and adults, integrates contemporary works and stories into its temporary exhibits and is heavily involved in supporting the works of the Coram Family childrens charity. The museum promotes itself as both a preservation of history and heritage as well as an active community organization. By highlighting its ties to the community through the Coram Family and other charitable institutions, the museum is in fact branding itself

Smith 3 as a charitable institution itself. Naturally, the history of the hospital and its philanthropic founders is an important part of this identity. However, its responsibilities are not limited only to the preservation of these histories, but also the promotion of their themes. The museum outs children first, offering them free admission and carting programs and events to school groups and family activities. Childrens faces and images of foundlings of the hospital are usually depicted on brochures and printed material, as they represent the core of the museums purpose. In a way, the exhibitions, most specifically Corams Children in the Social History gallery pull heavily on the emotional power of these stories of exposed and abandoned children and their mothers. This heightened emotion is then translated into the present day efforts of childcare charity and the current work that is taking place in London. By showcasing these stories and highlighting the ties between the hospitals past and the museums present programs, the museum is establishing itself as a vital part of the community and a living piece of heritage. As a member of the Foundling team, I now have the responsibility to help promote this idea. During my time with the Foundling Museum I will be working with both the Front of House team and well as the Events Department. For half of the week I am responsible for performing Front of House duties including gallery stewarding, operating the front till for admission and shop sales and answering visitors questions via phone and in person, as well as cash out and lock ups for the day. During this time I am also preparing for a ten to fifteen minute gallery talk, which I will be presenting sometime during the next few months. In order to prepare for this talk I have been grated use of the museums small library as well any catalogues, books or materials available in the bookstore. Although most of my time is spent researching, I also help out with any small

Smith 4 tasks that need to be done in the museum in any department requiring my help. The second half of the week I work with the Events Department, which is responsible for organizing and facilitating any corporate, private, or museum engagements that take place on the museums property. This includes meeting with clients, compiling invites and guest lists, arrangement of catering and technical needs, creation and management of time matrixes, and the set-up and tear down. Some examples of events include exhibition openings, corporate dinners or receptions and evening lectures. My first few weeks with the Foundling Museum have already been very eventful, demanding and exciting. On my first day I was asked to report to the Front of House Manager Shelly Mullane. The day was to be primarily devoted to getting acquainted with the museum and my responsibilities. In the morning Emma, one of the museums volunteers, gave me a tour of the permanent collection. This was the second tour I had been given of the museum, yet it was still a new experience since each guide seems to have an individual take on the museum collection and can point out new or different things. Since the opening of the museums newest exhibition, Threads of Feeling, was only a few days away, the staff and museum spaces were very hectic and a bit out of order. For this same reason, I did not see much of my supervisor on Tuesday, or throughout most of the week. Instead, I was left in the care of other volunteers and interns who helped as a learned more about the museums history and was introduced to workings of the Front of House staff. I was given a volunteers pack which included general information about the Foundling Museum as well as outlining daily duties and responsibilities, rules and regulations, safety and health guidelines and operating procedures. Most of my morning was spent in Gallery steward positions throughout the museum, As a steward, you are

Smith 5 encouraged to engage and interact with museum visitors, and to act as a point of further information. Also, you are responsibly for monitoring the galleries for added security for the collection and visitors safety. After lunch I was then placed on Front of house till duty, were I learned how to work the cash register and interact with visitors as the are arriving and leaving. My responsibilities for the afternoon included selling admission and shop items, answering phones, answering visitor inquires, managing the coat check and keeping the shop and museum entrance tidy. Throughout the week, it was requested that I spend the day helping in the Events Department since a Trustee of the museum was in need of help in organizing an event for the end of November. Therefore, after a short gallery steward shift, I was sent to the archives library where I was introduced to Carolyn Steen, a Trustee of the Foundling Museum. I was given the task of helping Carolyn organize, write, assemble and send over 250 letters to past present and hopefully future museum donors inviting them to a dinner to celebrate the inauguration of the new President and Vice Presidents of the Foundling Museum. While the work itself was mundane, the purpose behind the event and its significance to the museum was not lost to me. Carolyn explained that the positions of President and Vice Presidents were new to the museum and that this event was not only a way to keep supported updated and involved in the museum but to also ask that they might continue to support the museum finically. Care was taken to individually address and sign each letter and invitation. I spent most the afternoons continuing to help with this task and would later help to prepare for evening events, such as the opening reception and private viewing the brand new exhibition.

Smith 6 There have been a number of events in the museum within the past few weeks. My work with the Events Department, while still connected to my front of House duties, is very different. For instance, there were over 250 people in attendance for the official opening of the Threads of Feeling exhibition and the reception. I was responsible for helping to set up audio systems and lecterns beforehand and during the event I was asked to hand out exhibition guides, help visitors find there way around the museum, promote donation opportunities and answer any inquires about the museum and the exhibition. The atmosphere and be extremely hectic and demanding, but it is a great way to promote the exhibition and engage with the visitors. It was wonderful to see some of the first reactions and responses to the Threads of Feeling exhibition and everyone seemed very pleases with the results of the evening. Other events throughout the last few weeks have included a corporate meeting and reception in which Princess Anne was in attendance and other breakfast meetings and events for Foundling members. Throughout the week I continued to serve as a gallery steward when needed and took time to work on my research for my upcoming gallery talk. Researching works in the collection has been a wonderful way for me to become more familiar with the history of the hospital, it founders and its collection. Although my presentation will focus on specific works, I am also seeking to gain a greater knowledge of Thomas Coram and William Hogarath and the history of the foundlings. My work with Carolyn and a few other museum trustees has also helped me expand my knowledge of the museum in both its heritage as well as its present functions and needs. Organizing huge events for donors and sponsors has helped me understand how a private museum like the Foundling survives through fundraising and self-promotion.

Smith 7 My second week has so far been just as exciting and engaging. I am continuing my research and learning more about the museum everyday. I have been given more responsibilities in Front of House operations and am learning more about cashing out and locking up the museum. I am learning first hand how an event is organized from inception to execution through my work with Carolyn as we begin to compile a guest list for the upcoming event and initiate questions of budget, scheduling and follow-up communications. One of the events this week even included a visit from royalty, HRH Princess Anne and require intense management and communication with royal security and police officers. There are many elements which come into play when organizing a successful event, and in the past week I have had the chance to witness some of these in action. I look forward to continuing to help with the organization of this event as well as others in the coming months. The Foundling Museum has so far been a wonderful place to work. The staff, volunteers, interns and even the museum guest are all very friendly. I have found the projects interesting and engaging and feel that I am learning more with each day. One thing that has stuck me about the museum is the sense of ownership and community that staff and visitors feel towards the museum and its history. The story of the hospitals founding and mission, as well and the lives it affected is a moving one, and in a way, I believe this is one respect in which the museum remains relevant to community. It builds a tie between the social work and charity of today and the past.