Please note this blog has been edited from the original version. You can download the full version here.

From February to March of this year, I embarked on a daily commute to the blue tinged waterfront city of Plymouth. Without fail, three times a week, I begrudgingly rolled out of bed at the ungodly hour of seven in the morning, shuffled my way to the corner shop for a cheap cappuccino, and dashed to Exeter St David's Station, hoping to catch the earliest train available. This regular ritual of braving the morning rush and enduring the hand-numbing cold on Platform 4 was no easy feat. But for me, it was all worth it for two reasons. Firstly, the train ride. Midway through my hour-long journey, the train would snake along the coast, affording me a breath-taking view of the sprawling sea confined within the frames of my window, reminiscent of a familiar seascape painting.

Better than the journey, however, was my destination: The Box, a newly re-opened museum and gallery where I was fortunate enough to intern for five consecutive weeks. For a month or so, I had the opportunity to work with the museum's curatorial team in producing 'Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration', a significant upcoming exhibition that commemorates the 300th birth anniversary of the renowned portrait artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. As this was my very first internship, I thought it would be worthwhile to recount my experience — the range of tasks I undertook, from those that were familiar and easy to those that challenged me in new ways, the obstacles I faced, and the accomplishments I achieved — creating a kind of literary souvenir, not only for myself but for those of you embarking on your own internship journey.

Final thoughts...

My internship experience was nothing short of positive and fulfilling. Even though I was the only intern at The Box, the staff and Terah treated me with the same respect and value as any other team member. They never devalued my opinions and consistently asked for and encouraged my input throughout my entire time there. It was an incredibly validating (and even exhilarating) experience to have professionals in the field genuinely listen to my thoughts and take them into consideration.

Admittedly, I wish the internship stretched for a little longer — It was only during my final two weeks there that the Bridge Gallery project truly began gaining momentum; I would have loved to be more involved in its development. Nevertheless, as I took my final train ride to Exeter, I felt great fulfilment and pride in what I had accomplished. Through my internship, I learned that curating, while not as glamorous as portrayed in movies like Ocean's 11, was an intricate and rewarding process that required a great deal of creativity, organisation, and careful attention to detail. The experience gave me a newfound appreciation for the hard work and dedication that went into bringing art to the public eye and made me more eager to continue my journey in the art world.

Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration runs from 24th June - 29th October 2023 at The Box, Plymouth. Find out more here.