This article is written by UQ art history student Mae Stanton. The UQ Art Museum offers philanthropically funded internships to UQ students across all areas of museum operations, from education and curatorial to audience engagement and finance.
This year, I was privileged to undertake the Kinnane Endowment Fund Research, Education, and Programming Internship at the UQ Art Museum with the mentorship of Education Producer Logan Bobongie. For the past six months, I’ve worked with the wonderful Education team including Dr Jacqueline Chlanda, Logan Bobongie and Tallara Gray across research and delivery of public programs.
Internship highlights
One of the many special aspects of this role is just how dynamic the work experience was. On a day-to-day basis, I assist in tasks such as planning artist travel, and then afterwards I am nose-deep researching exhibition archives of the UQ Art Museum. Given this is a learning role, the ability to gain such broad hands-on experience in arts education and programming has allowed me to hone my professional interests and skills.
The most fulfilling moment during my time as intern was creating and developing the program, Carrying the Past, Creating the Future: Aunty Sana Balai in Conversation with Jocelyn Flynn, in the Alumni Friends of UQ Collection Study Room. I was privileged to work with Mittelheuser Great Ocean Scholar Aunty Sana Balai and Acting Curator Jocelyn Flynn who facilitated an incredibly meaningful discussion about the significance of Elders in passing down knowledge to the next generation of Pasifika creatives. Not only was this program an incredible opportunity to develop skills in arts programming, but also showcased to me just how critical arts education is in building community, fostering cultural knowledge, and meaningfully contributing to discourse on contemporary art.
Internship outcomes
As an art history student at UQ, we are incredibly lucky to be situated alongside an arts institution that values students and provides hands-on work experience. I know this experience will be invaluable in confidently stepping into the arts industry and furthering my art-historical research pursuits. The supportive and welcoming team at UQ Art Museum, specifically my primary supervisor Logan Bobongie, have made this possible. I extend my endless gratitude to the generous Paula and Tony Kinnane—it is a privilege to gain paid work experience in the arts that supports me both personally and professionally.
