Open Palace Programmes 2020 | England, Scotland and Ireland

The Open Palace Programme has been developed by a group of significant heritage and education organisations in the UK committed to providing a first-class, first-hand experience of palaces and treasure houses across the UK for international students and emergent professionals in the heritage field. Registration for the Open Palace Programmes 2020, offering itineraries in England, Scotland and Ireland, is now open.

Programme description

The Open Palace Programmes are unique hands-on experiences for students and emergent professionals behind the scenes in some of the UK and Ireland's finest palaces and heritage sites, working with and learning from the consummate professionals who care for them.

The programmes aim to give participants a new perspective on heritage specialisms and how they are actually practiced on site including conservation, collections management, interpretation, education and crafting the visitor experience.

The Open Palace Programmes are endorsed by key organisations in the UK heritage sector including the Historic Royal Palaces. Engaging directly with heritage alongside experts in their field, the programme will allow participants to build their knowledge and skills from direct experience at the heart of heritage institutions in England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Open Palace Programmes provide a marvellous way of extending career opportunities. During the programmes participants will benefit from careers advice to help them to understand career experience options within the heritage sector.

Participants

The Open Palace Programmes 2020 are addressed to:

Emergent professionals, paid or voluntary, already working in a heritage related field or environment; or
Postgraduate or final year undergraduate students of a heritage-related subject like museum studies, historic preservation, buildings conservation, history, architectural history, archives and information studies, design history, cultural tourism, archaeology. public history, art history or arts and cultural administration.

Applicants should be English-speaking. Preference is given to applicants who have already undertaken some form of practical experience in a heritage-setting such as a placement, an internship or a period of volunteering.

A number of bursaries are available.