Placement opens eyes to opportunities

‘‘Real insight’’ . . . Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Visual Arts student Kipp Richards enjoys the...
‘‘Real insight’’ . . . Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Visual Arts student Kipp Richards enjoys the hands-on tasks he has experienced while on placement at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. PHOTO: PHOTO: OTAGO POLYTECHNIC
Bachelor of visual arts

Kipp Richards, a first year bachelor of visual arts student majoring in print, has been enjoying undertaking a work placement at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. He spends his work placement days on a variety of tasks designed to give students an overview of how an art gallery operates.

‘‘It’s really fun — every day has been different,’’ he says.

‘‘The experience is a real insight into how a gallery works and it’s been cool to see ‘behind the scenes’.’’

So far, Kipp has spent his time in exhibitions interacting with the public, helping deinstall exhibitions, rearchiving works and setting up new shows. The placement has not just given him new skills but opened his eyes to new career possibilities.

‘‘As an arts student, my focus has been on one day becoming an artist – but this experience has shown me that there are many other opportunities out there, like working in an art gallery or being a curator or conservationist.’’

Lynda Cullen, the gallery’s visitor programmes coordinator is enthusiastic about the collaborative work placement scheme between Otago Polytechnic and Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

‘‘This is our fourth year and the benefits have definitely worked both ways,’’ she says.

‘‘We try to give students an overview of everything during their time here. It’s always been a positive experience – and some of the workplacement students have actually ended up doing some work for us.’’

For more information about studying towards a career in visual arts, visit: www.op.ac.nz