Job profile: gallery staff

Overview

Attendants are responsible for ensuring that visitors are properly and safely regulated and that artefacts are safe and secure.

Full Description

Responsibilities

Attendants are responsible for ensuring that visitors are properly and safely regulated and that artefacts are safe and secure. They may provide visitors with information about the room or centre or area being visiting and on occasion may conduct tours.

They will make sure that any house rules for conduct (e.g. relating to noise or touching) are followed.

For interactive centres, they may be in period costume and may get into character to help the visitor's experience be as authentic as possible. They also provide information to visitors, using documents or interpretation material to ensure that visitors can get the most from their visit.

Some centres or museums are now adopting a multi-skilling approach to staffing. This may mean that an attendant may also work in the cafe or in the shop, as admissions staff.

Attendants may work at a place of historical interest, a heritage or cultural centre, a visitor centre, a re-enactment centre or activity, or a museum.

Skills associated with this job

Work activities

  • examining tickets as people enter the centre or room
  • guiding people on their way round a venue
  • solving any problems concerning visitor arrangements
  • taking appropriate action to deal with any disturbances that may occur during visits
  • supervising evacuation of the centre or house or museum in an emergency
  • supporting people with disabilities, wheelchairs and hearing aids to get the most from their visit
  • undertaking tours/guiding

Knowledge

  • knowledge of the artefacts/items on display - product knowledge
  • knowledge of health and safety rules and evacuation procedures
  • knowledge of the heritage or history that relates to the centre, museum or historical house

Skills

  • a good communicator
  • able to keep calm in an emergency
  • able to handle money
  • administrative skills

Behaviours and personal qualities

  • to be polite and helpful
  • to enjoy working as part of a small team and working with the public.
  • enjoy dealing with members of the public
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