Five minutes with Ruth Gray Interview.
As Ruth leaves us for pastures new this month we decided to
ask her a few questions before she goes.
1.
Tell us a little about yourself and your
background.
Trained in textiles technology at NTU, for the first twelve
years of my career I was a fashion designer working in the Lace Market in
Nottingham. A chance to move to Australia with my husband’s job meant that I
was suddenly living in a rural country town on the Murray River in a place
called Albury Wodonga. Six years and two kids later after having ago at many different
roles (including being a workplace trainer and assessor training retail
apprentices, writing apprenticeship courses and running an art business) we
came back to the UK and I decided I needed to upskill to be able to re-join the
textile industry so I completed a degree in international fashion business but
soon realised fashion had moved on and so had I. Instead, I became a self-employed
artist particularly focused on heritage buildings. Utilising my business degree
and co running an artists networking and business help group. But this was not
enough the urge to study is always there and I was delighted to be accepted on
to a Public History and Heritage MA at University of Derby and equally
delighted to be employed as a freelance heritage assistant for Culture
Syndicates whilst I was there.
2.
Before working at Culture Syndicates what was
the most unusual or interesting job you have ever had?
I have had many roles, but I must say my first job in
Australia was sweeping the floor in a hairdresser an interesting experience as
having run a design room suddenly being told what to do by the Saturday girl
certainly was humbling. It taught me that you must fight your way back to the
top and you can not just turn up in a new town across the world expecting to be
handed everything on a plate. It took hard work and networking to be accepted
and a lot of leg work in the days before social media!
3.
What was your role at Culture Syndicates? – and
what aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?
My role since gaining the admin position has been a varied
one. It has been a support role to the Head of Projects. I am well suited to
being in a support role over the years I have very much enjoyed assisting others
to get things over the line and this position has been just that. Deadlines are
set and we must work together to achieve them. I have particularly enjoyed the freedom
to develop my own ideas and be allowed to run with them in particular the
social media aspect ,researching and writing the blogs. A final report has shown we have reached nearly 60,000
people with our efforts since January. Prior
to this I was a heritage assistant and I really enjoyed the travel and the
ability to work in some lovely heritage spaces and meet different types of
people.
4.
What is on your wish list for the next few years
with Culture Syndicates?
My wish for Culture Syndicates is that they continue with
their mission to provide paid opportunities for sector entrants to gain
experience in heritage and museum spaces. It is very difficult to gain those
first roles and Culture Syndicates provide those vital skills that make you
stand out from the crowd.
5.
What are your hopes for our industry?
The heritage sector is a varied industry and covers many areas,
but I have learnt that it is extremely poorly paid for the amount of knowledge and
skills that are required. Therefore, it is bias towards those that can afford
to go to university and then work for little pay. If the industry is to become
diverse and inclusive it must address this. So, my hopes are that business
models are rethought with a more resilient commercial aspect that supports the
ambitions of each organisation without compromising their integrity.
6.
Any tips for new sector entrants?
Use your social media like a CV you never know who is
looking, create an account specifically that is related to the type of work you
want to do and post relevant images and share relevant content to attract the
people you would like to work with and for. All my opportunities have come
through networking whether its online or offline.
But the main tip is be kind to all because one day that young person on Front of House could be your boss!
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