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POSITIVE ACTION TRAINEESHIP _ MUSEUMS People from ethnic minorities are under-represented in the museums and galleries workforce, and a variety of initiatives have been developed in recent years to address this. You may be familiar, for instance, with the Museums Association's scheme 'Diversify!' (see www.museumsassociation.org/). The East Midlands Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (EMMLAC) is offering a bursary for 2004-05 to encourage an individual of African, African Caribbean, Asian or Chinese descent to take up a career in museums and galleries. This builds on the successful Positive Action Traineeships introduced in 2003. EMMLAC is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity in the museum workforce, through this and other initiatives such as its Diversity Network for staff working in museums, libraries and archives. The bursary will fund: . course fees for a one year full-time postgraduate diploma/masters degree course in the Department of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, a leading provider of museums studies education . an allowance of £500 for course books/travel expenses . two months paid work experience in a museum or group of museums in the East Midlands (in addition to the two months unpaid work experience which is an integral part of the Museums Studies course) . Museums Association membership and professional benefits We are looking for individuals who: . are of African, African Caribbean, Asian or Chinese descent . have an enthusiasm for developing a career in museums and galleries in the UK . have a first or second class honours degree . are eligible for home student university fees (nationals of the UK or another EU country, for example) . can fund their own living expenses while attending the course The host museum(s) will be a Registered Museum or group of Registered Museums in the East Midlands, covering the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. The bursary will provide trainees with: . four months of work experience between April/May and September 2005 (exact dates are negotiable) . a range of meaningful work which will enable them to utilise and extend their professional skills, and gain insights into the opportunities and constraints of employment in museums and/or galleries . support and guidance throughout the placement, e.g. a mentor or a buddying arrangement . an opportunity, if possible, to work on a specific project during the period of their placement The work they do during their placement will not be wholly or primarily focused on cultural diversity or social inclusion initiatives. Feedback from the Diversify! scheme strongly suggests that Positive Action Trainees wish to avoid being 'pigeon holed' into these areas, and to keep their future career options as open as possible at this stage. Examples of the work planned for this year's EMMLAC trainees include helping to develop an educational workshop; a collections management and storage project; assisting with research for an audience development plan; and work on community-based exhibits. The trainee will also gain experience of more routine museum or gallery work, as well as that related to specific projects. It may be possible to take their dissertation topic into account when planning placement work, but they would need to discuss this with the host museum(s). If you would like any additional information about the EMMLAC Positive Action Traineeship, or an application form, please contact Cynthia Brown, Workforce Development Officer, EMMLAC, 56 King Street, Leicester, LE1 6RL, tel. 0116 285 1360, email [log in to unmask] The closing date for applications is Monday 7 June 04. Many thanks Cynthia Brown