Museum Volunteers

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About MV recruitment in general

 

Who are the MVs?

 

MV is an informal group of trained volunteer guides who give free guided tours at the NHB museums and heritage institutions. We have about 200  MVs from different nationalities, races, age groups and professions. As almost all MVs work full-time, we  guide on weekends (and occasionally on weekday evenings.) The MVs also conduct volunteer guide training and assist in various NHB programmes.

 

At which museums do MVs guide? 

 

MVs guide at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), the Peranakan Museum (TPM), The National Museum of Singapore (NMS), the Singapore Art Museum (SAM)and 8Q, and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH). Some MVs also guide at Singapore Biennale, Heritage Trails, and Preservation of Monuments Board tours.

 

How can I join the Museum Volunteers as a volunteer guide?

 

Volunteers need to undergo several months of training before qualifying as guides for a particular museum under the National Heritage Board.

 

Training for Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) is currently ongoing and we are recruiting for National Museum Singapore (NMS), Malay Heritage Centre (MHC).

 

The frequency of recruitment and training is determined by the number of existing guides and the number of scheduled tour slots at the museums. We will recruit when we foresee a shortage of guides.  Training sessions for guiding at each museum could be conducted once every 2 -3 years. 

 

How can I be a member of the MVs?

 

The Museum Volunteers is not a social group. The group represents active, weekend volunteer guides who have undergone extensive training to conduct scheduled or special tours at the various National Heritage Board (NHB) museums.

 

There is currently no annual membership fee for joining the MV group.

 

How do I apply to be trained and to be a member of MV?

 

When we have a recruitment drive, an announcement will be posted on this website and NHB’s website inviting applicants to submit an application form.

 

In addition, those who have previously indicated interest via an email to museumvolsingapore(at)gmail.com will be alerted to the recruitment. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.

 

What kind of volunteers are you looking for?

 

You must first and foremost be interested in the arts, history and culture as well as possess strong communication and public speaking skills, in order to best share your knowledge with the public. You must be able to commit the time and effort to the training as well as provide volunteer tours at least once a month for 24 times over 2 years upon completion of training.

 

All MV tours are conducted in English and you must have a strong command of the language. 

 

What are the benefits of being an MV?

 

Free access to the major NHB museums, one free guest pass for each MV for each museum visit, and discounts at selected food and beverage establishments at the museums.

 

There are many MVs who have been guiding at the various museums for more than ten years, sustained by friendship and camaraderie with like-minded individuals who enjoy the arts and history of Asia. These intangibles are the main benefits of being an active museum volunteer guide.

 

What will be covered during the training?

 

The training course prepares volunteers to guide at one of the NHB museums or heritage institutions and generally lasts for several months. 

 

Topics covered could include:

SAM /8Q: Western Art, Chinese Art, Southeast Asian Art, art history and various art forms. 

 

NMS: Singapore History and various aspects related to the Living Galleries on Singapore food, fashion, photography and film.

 

ACM: Asian history, religions, material culture like ceramics, symbolism, etc.

 

TPM:  various aspects of Peranakan culture and artifacts including Peranakan wedding, clothes, ceramics, jewellery, furniture, beadwork, embroidery, batik, religious items, etc.

 

SYSNMH: history of the Chinese Revolution, Dr. Sun's revolutionary activities in Nanyang and local supporters' contributions to the Revolution.

 

Details will focus on the various museums’ permanent collections. Training will not be exhaustive and you are expected to read and research beyond what is presented through lectures.

 

What is the time commitment required for the training courses?

 

Trainees need to be present at all the training sessions usually held on Saturday afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. Lectures may sometimes be held on weekday evenings or Sundays to accommodate lecturers’ schedule.  Additional time will be required for further reading and research for the preparation of several gallery papers and a final tour paper.

 

Will the lectures be enough to prepare me to guide?

 

Beyond lectures, MVs attend curator walkthroughs and may need to do additional research when preparing to guide at exhibitions at the various museums.

 

If I have a degree in fine arts / arts history / museum studies/ Asian history do I still need to undergo the training?

 

Yes, it is to familiarise yourself with the museum and its exhibits.

 

I am a student and want to volunteer during the vacation period only / I want to be an intern at a museum / I want to learn and volunteer, is this possible?  

 

As training lasts for several months depending on the museum, it is not suitable for students on vacation or people seeking short-term volunteer openings. We are seeking volunteers who can commit to training and to guiding with us for at least a year. This calls for a developed and enduring interest in the arts and heritage.

 

Having said that, all the museums welcome your assistance.  All students (including those at university level) should contact the museums directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

 

The museum websites are as follows:

Asian Civilisations Museum  - http://www.acm.org.sg

Peranakan Museum - http://www.peranakanmuseum.org.sg

National Museum of Singapore - http://www.nationalmuseum.sg

Singapore Art Museum - http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg 

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall - http://www.sysnmh.org.sg

 

I don’t want to guide, but I want to volunteer at the museums, who can I contact?

 

Please refer to the websites listed above or call the museums. 

 

What’s the difference between MV and the Friends of the Museums (FOM)?

 

The MV group provides weekend tours whereas FOM provides weekday tours.

 

MV and FOM are distinct and independent of each other.  FOM has its own membership scheme and members’ activities. You can find out more about FOM at www.fom.sg

 

Who do I contact for more information?

 

Please email  museumvolsingapore@gmail.com