Meet the New Collections Care Assistant at the National Science and Media Museum

Meet the Collections Care Assistant at the National Science and Media Museum and discover the conservation work that keeps exhibits safe and welcoming for visitors.

A new face in conservation

Ben joined the museum’s Conservation and Collections Care team in November 2025 as a Collections Care Assistant. With a degree in History of Art from the University of York, Ben first became part of the museum in February 2025 as a Visitor Experience Assistant before moving into collections care later that year. The transition from greeting visitors to caring for the objects themselves offers a useful reminder of how many roles combine to shape the visitor experience.

Daily rhythm: no two days the same

Work in collections care blends practical handling, preventative conservation and administrative housekeeping. Routine tasks are balanced with one-off projects such as preparations for building works, condition checks and specialist cleaning. Ben appreciates the variety: from close contact with historic objects to the spreadsheets that keep storage running smoothly.

Main responsibilities at a glance

Tools, training and teamwork

Initial training covered practical skills such as object handling, identifying object hazards and learning to use the museum’s collections database, Mimsy. Conservation work is collaborative: Ben works closely with Vanessa, the conservator, to carry out pre-opening checks in galleries and to determine when display cases in the Kodak Gallery need extra attention. Teamwork was especially important during a major project to protect the collections prior to building works in the stores, where Ben contributed to writing risk assessments and coordinating staff and objects.

Practical skills list

• Safe handling and packing of sensitive objects
• Monitoring environmental conditions in showcases
• Using Mimsy for cataloguing and location management
• Preparing and documenting risk assessments
• Basic cleaning and maintenance of on-display items

Behind the scenes: more than dusting

Conservation staff do much more than keep objects clean. Administrative tasks are essential: Excel spreadsheets track pest management plans, store measurements and supplier information for racking—an understated but critical part of preserving collections for future visitors. Visits to partner institutions, such as the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, provide valuable comparisons of storage practice and help strengthen regional museum networks.

How conservation shapes tourism

Well-maintained collections directly affect museum tourism: confident conservation practices allow curators to present objects in the best possible way, support specialist museum tours and create opportunities for behind-the-scenes experiences. When collections are secure and well-documented, it becomes possible to offer richer museum tours with live guides, pop-up exhibitions and conservation demonstrations that enhance visitor engagement and drive repeat visits.

Highlights so far include the routine gallery checks in the Sound and Vision galleries, monthly cleaning of open displays (the backpack vacuum sometimes draws amused comments from the public) and the chance to work on cross-museum projects. The role demonstrates how practical care, digital recordkeeping and careful planning combine to keep objects accessible and interpretative for a broad audience.

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In summary: the Collections Care Assistant role brings together object handling, preventive conservation, digital cataloguing and teamwork to keep exhibits visitor-ready. Key points include practical training in handling and database use (Mimsy), routine gallery checks in the Sound and Vision galleries, monthly cleaning, risk assessments during building works, and the administrative work that sustains storage and pest management. Whether you’re planning museum tours, luxury adventure travel experiences, eco-friendly wildlife safaris, cruise packages or interactive online cultural workshops, understanding behind-the-scenes work enriches travel experiences and supports better Museum tours with live guides, Online virtual tours, Adventure activities and even niche options like Beginner esports coaching sessions or Professional esports training programs.