Partner placement: my experience at North East Museums and Glasgow (Chantal Umuhoza, Rwanda, ITP Senior Fellow 2025)
Written by Chantal Umuhoza, Curator, Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (Rwanda, ITP Fellow 2018, Senior Fellow 2025)
As part of the ITP annual programme, fellows are placed at various museums across the UK, with placements tailored to their individual interests. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go at two partner museums, making my experience both highly educational and enjoyable. I spent the first five days at North East Museums, followed by another five days at Glasgow Museums, each offering unique insights and enriching experiences.
Although visiting the British Museum’s departments, exhibitions, and other sites such as the newly opened V&A Storehouse was an incredibly enriching experience—almost like a dream for some of us—the reality is that the scale of their operations and budgets are beyond what we typically have access to. For many of us, the resources available at such institutions are simply unattainable.
In contrast, my experience at the partner museums offered a different but equally valuable perspective. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how these institutions navigate similar challenges, particularly regarding limited budgets and resource constraints. I was especially surprised to see the linking roof; it felt almost like being back at my own workplace! Overall, visiting these partner museums has deepened my understanding of the shared struggles we face and the innovative solutions we develop within our sector. Additionally, I particularly appreciated North East Museums’ strong emphasis on community engagement.
My favorite day was the one we spent with Bill Griffiths, Head of Programmes, on Thursday, visiting Segedunum and Arbeia. Initially, when I saw that we would spend a day discussing archaeology, world heritage, and site management, topics I know little about; I hesitated to say I wouldn’t join them. It turned out to be one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Bill’s passion while explaining his work on these sites, especially Segedunum’s journey to becoming a world heritage site, and witnessing how visitors engage with the sites was an incredible experience. On a personal level, seeing Bill’s dedication and enthusiasm made me reflect on my own commitment, wondering if I am truly giving my whole self to my work and how passionate I am about what I do. Once again, I enjoyed the ferry ride and the fish and chips by the coast with the team, Bill, and his wife. It felt like we weren’t just fellows, but a close family, sharing special moments together.
I spent my final days in Glasgow. Although I didn’t have much time with the team—since they were visiting Edinburgh on Friday, followed by the weekend and the storm on Monday, I still enjoyed my visit to Kelvingrove and had a wonderful coffee chat with Patricia Allan, former Curator for World Cultures, Glasgow Museums. On our last day, Edward Johnson, Curator: Medieval and Renaissance Art, Glasgow Museums, did his best to show us as much as possible, making sure we made the most of our time there. I would like to conclude by sincerely thanking Bill and Ed for their time and support in helping us throughout this experience.
