ADEBIMPE Ademosu has always dreamed of working in a community-orientated role and thanks to a new initiative is getting the valuable experience she needs to make that ambition become reality.
Ms Ademosu is one of four trainees currently part of the Inclusive Museums Traineeship Programme in Glasgow.
An equal opportunities programme, it is aimed at black and minority ethnic communities that are under-represented in Scotland's museum and heritage sector.
Those taking part will complete a 12 month placement, supported by a learning bursary, as they work towards gaining a SVQ level 3 in Museums and Galleries Practice.
The Inclusive Museum Heritage Project was developed by Next Step Initiative and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
In addition to Riverside, the Open Museum and Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow are also participating in the scheme as is the David Livingstone Centre in nearby Blantyre.
The trainees are typically assigned duties such as hosting tours, transcribing old books and undertaking research.
Ms Ademosu – known as Bimmie – began her traineeship in June. The 34-year-old originally from Nigeria has been living in Scotland for the past five years.
"I have always wanted to work as a community engagement officer," she said. "When the opportunity came up I saw it as a stepping stone because the museum is all about bringing people from different backgrounds and communities together.
"There is a lack of awareness within the African community about the museum, so I have been working hard on helping to raise that awareness."
She has been mentored by Michelle Woods, assistant museum manager at Riverside.
"The black and minority ethnic community isn't well represented among the museum staff," said Ms Woods. "Nor is it well represented in our audience despite the fact that in many of the surrounding areas to Riverside there is a large black minority ethnic community. We wanted to try and take steps to remedy that through this programme."
Already there are some signs of making in-roads. Earlier this month, Ms Ademosu planned a weekend where she took members of the African community on a tour around the museum.
"Most of them have never been to Riverside before even though they have been in the country for as long as 10 years," she said. "They all really enjoyed it and I got lots of positive feedback."
Ms Ademosu has been working on the Riverside Museum Christmas Fair being held this weekend.
Centred on the story of the Glasgow-based showpeople community during the first and second world wars, she has helped create a script for actors taking part in a live interpretation.
"The showpeople community has such a huge history in Glasgow," said Ms Woods. "Bimmie has been finding out more about their role during the first and second world wars, such as driving lorries and helping keep morale up through entertainment.
"It is linked to objects in the museum and has been a big piece of work to put together. She has done a fantastic job."
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