As a student of Political Science, I am familiar with the theoretical functioning of non for-profit organizations. In summer 2019, I became an intern at the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM), an organization aiming to support volunteers in Canadian museums and educate the public about the value of our common heritage. Through this enriching internship, I acquired first-hand knowledge of such organizations鈥� administrative tasks and came to appreciate the value of working in the museum and heritage sector.
The 2019 General Assembly of the World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) was held in Montreal last May. As a student intern with the CFFM, I was excited to welcome and meet our 64 guests from all around the world. This four-day event taught me more than event-planning. It opened my eyes to the value and potential of museums in promoting social and mental well-being, especially for the youth.
A keynote lecture given by demonstrated, using positive psychology, how museums and museum activities can promote artistic self-expression and human flourishing. Positive psychology studies the traits, whether institutional or personal, that help individuals and communities strive in their environments. As science of well-being extends beyond economic indicators, positive psychology involves research in neurosciences, the arts, and humanities.
As a member of the CFFM鈥檚 Young Friends Council, this lecture inspires me to view museums as more than organizations that thrive in their respective fields. Leah Sandals, the news and special sections editor at Canadian Art, wrote: 鈥渋n the 21st century, culture will be to health what sports were in the 20th century. Today, doctors prescribe exercise; tomorrow, they may prescribe a visit to a museum or a concert.鈥� Individuals enjoy music, theater, artefacts, and the fine arts to different degrees, but the general beneficence of creative work to well-being remains universal.
The lessons from Dr. Pawelski鈥檚 lecture soon crystallized into a formal discussion focusing on youth participation in heritage sites the next morning. During the panel entitled, From Baby Boomers to Millennials: Expressing Expectations, Preparing for the Future, museum volunteers and professionals debated the relationship between museum membership and local identities.
The highlight from this lively event occurred when a member of the Young Friend Council explained that, in Italy, the millennials are struggling with a 鈥渓oss of identity.鈥� Preoccupied by exploring new opportunities to 鈥渇ind their place,鈥� young individuals rarely take the time to revisit their heritage sites and museums. A long-time volunteer at the Montreal Fine Arts Museum, Barbara, was fascinated by this comment. She responded brilliantly: 鈥淲hy should they (the Italian youth) avoid museums to 鈥榝ind their place鈥�? Their museum IS their heritage and identity.鈥�
Indeed, the legacies of past communities go beyond individual tales, they transpire the culture and the air we breathe in. In addition to forming our subconscious, traditions and heritages can be seen through our buildings and institutions. As young individuals, we initiate change and innovation, but such creativity must be grounded on a passion to learn about our past and present. Through investigating the traditions of our communities, we can better orient ourselves given current environments.
Like many young professionals and students, before the WFFM Summit, I believed that financial barriers and the lack of artistic expertise prevented most individuals from becoming active museum members or contribute to local heritage sites. I was thrilled to discover that the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts offers public and free events that promote artistic self-expression. Also, organizations like the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM) provides free, flexible, and diverse opportunities for students to visit and volunteer at local heritage sites.
Throughout the internship, I actively participated in multiple event planning sessions such as CFFM meetings with board members and international colleagues, while completing many of the organization鈥檚 daily tasks such as answering emails and registering new members. I mostly enjoyed writing, editing, and publishing for the CFFM鈥檚 monthly and tri-annual bulletins. Communicating with museum volunteers and taking pictures for WFFM participants were the most meaningful and enjoyable activities during my internship.
Although this six-week internship is not linked to my academic credits, I took this learning opportunity very seriously. I am grateful for the financial aid provided by 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Arts Internship Office. The funds granted by the AIO covered my living and transportation expenses during the internship, which allowed me to focus on working and learning from this wonderful organization. This enriching experience will shape my future research projects in political science. As I explore the intricate relationship between civil society and governments, I will investigate the role of the museum and heritage sector.
