Have you ever considered how your skillset and experiences could translate into heritage or museum work?
Everyone who works in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums) sector has a unique career pathway. However, with the ongoing incredible financial pressures on this industry, and seeing fellow organizations we know and love in Victoria recently closing, we recognize that it can be difficult to see yourself beginning a heritage or museum career.
There is no blueprint for a career, but in this #MeetMMBC series of blog posts, staff at the Maritime Museum of BC want to share how they got into their field of museum work, and what industries, skills, and contacts helped them along the way.
What is your name and what was your internship?
I am Burke Camara, and I worked as the Collections Intern from October 2024 to April 2025.
What is your biggest takeaway from your internship at MMBC?
I loved working with a close-knit team and learning from each of my co-workers. They were incredibly supportive with any questions I had about the job or day-to-day tasks. They did an excellent job facilitating opportunities to learn whether through field trips to other organisations or by allowing me to attend events. I appreciated everyone’s efforts towards inclusion and making me feel like part of the team.
Was this your first museum role?
No, I had previously worked as a Collections Assistant at a museum for a summer.
Did you find your degree or diploma program useful for museum work?
Yes, having object analysis skills and research helped to provide me with a foundation, which I continued to improve throughout the course of my internship by cataloguing artefacts. Additionally, I was also able to put into practice my understanding of photography.
Have you worked outside the GLAM sector, and has that contributed to your museum work?
My previous work experience outside of GLAM has been beneficial in my museum work, even if not in a technical sense. Having experience interacting with patrons and being cognisant of the presentation of myself and the workspace has continued to be important during my time at the museum.
Why did you enter the field of museum and heritage work?
I’ve always been drawn to the notion of tangible history – to what can be learned from artefacts and archival materials. Organising these histories (whether photographs or objects) is a role I thought would be rewarding, and that has certainly proven to be true.
Do you have any advice for future interns in the GLAM sector?
Try to gain as much exposure to as many aspects of your job, the roles of your co-workers, and the organisation. GLAM internships consist of many aspects and skills, even if some tasks seem mundane. Having some organisational knowledge and an understanding of the various roles within a museum institution can help inform future career decisions.
