Drawing more young people into museum and gallery work

A while back, I wrote here about a workshop organised by London-based RSA Fellows looking at issues affecting young people. One of the projects discussed then was a collaboration between two RSA Fellows who have been working together to pool their very different skills.

One of the illustrations Rob made for the booklet

Matthew Gansallo from the Natural History Museum runs the Young Graduates for Museums and Galleries (YGMG) programme, which aims to open up access to employment in the sector. He's collaborated with Rob Reed, a talented freelance illustrator, to produce a guide to London's free museums and galleries that features writing from young people who have participated in the programme.

You can leaf through the booklet online at your leisure to read the contributors' descriptions and see Rob's fantastic illustrations. Matthew and Rob are keen to find sponsors who can help them get the booklet into print, and hope to do this while the spotlight is on London this summer, so if you're able to point them in the right direction then do get in touch with Matthew by email.

I'll leave you with Gabriella Quartin (one of the contributors) describing a venerable institution just up the road from the RSA...

I love paintings, I love photographs, and I love portraiture. The National Portrait Gallery is the only place where I can honestly say that walking into a room and having a bunch of dead people looking at me, doesn't fill me with absolute fear.

Sam Thomas is the RSA's project engagement manager. Follow @iamsamthomas on Twitter.