Diversity in the Chester Beatty Library’s Volunteer Programme

Dublin, 4 April 2014

Sacred Traditions Gallery

• Islam• Buddhism• Hinduism• Jainism• Sikhism• Daoism• Judaism• Christianity

Arts of the Book Gallery

• Redesigned and opened in

July 2011• Gallery focuses on arts of the

book in Middle-East, Asia, North Africa and Europe

• Art forms include calligraphy, illustration and illumination, book-bindings

• Rare books, prints, papyri, decorative objects and scrolls

Mission Statement and Volunteer Policy

The Chester Beatty Library seeks to maintain and preserve the collections of the Library and make them available in the most

appropriate ways for the use and enjoyment of the public in order to promote a wider appreciation and understanding of the international cultural heritage embodied in the collections and

foster relations between Ireland and the peoples whose cultures are represented in the collections.

We seek to involve volunteers in our mission to ensure that the goals of the Library are met, to provide assistance in bringing

the services of the Library to the general public and to enhance our contact with the local community we serve.

Volunteer Programme – formal structure

Director

↓

Head of Collections

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Head of Education

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Volunteer Co-ordinator (Education Assistant)

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Volunteers

Intercultural Learning Programme • Workshops for adults, teens and

children

• Arts and crafts demonstrations

• Lectures & conferences

• Music performances & film screenings

• Local festivals, incl. Chinese New Year, Norouz, Festival of Curiosity, Experience Japan, Diwali and Christmas

• Volunteer Programme established in 2000

• Tours

Chester Beatty Library VolunteersInclusive policy:

• Students, full time workers and senior citizens

• Irish & international volunteers (65 to 35%)

• Men and women• Various social, economic

and religious backgrounds

CBL Volunteer Programme encourages people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds to come

together and work for common goal.

Volunteer Programme 2014

• 30 Volunteers: Tour Guides, Curatorial, Education, Membership, Conservation & Retail Assistants, Visitor Service Representatives

• In 2013 CBL Guides gave 331 tours for general public and special interest associations, disability groups and schools.

The importance of education in Volunteer Programme

• Regular training sessions with Curators and Head of Education as well as peer training foster better understanding of ‘own’ and ‘others’ cultural identity

• Greater sensitivity to cultural and religious issues prevents stereotyping and facilitates greater understanding between members of various communities.

Intercultural Learning‘Thank you very much for accommodating my class last Thursday and pass on my sincerest gratitude to Joan; her enthusiasm was infectious and her choice of exhibits was excellent. (...) As many of my students are from Asia and the Middle East the visit to the collection resulted in many comments, and my Mongolian student was very interested to see an ancient form of Mongol on one of the Jade books. I learnt so much from the visit and my students, and they were very interested, and some surprised to see so much of their cultural heritage so tenderly kept that it made for a very worthwhile excursion, so many thanks. Best, Jane Humphries’

Community Ambassador Programme• Established in 2011, inspired by the

Community Ambassadors Programme in Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia

• Guided tours for members of local multi-ethnic communities and other visitors who are perhaps not fluent in English or are learners of respective languages

• Irish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Arabic (tours in other languages are available on request).

Gospel Books 福音书

St Mark, from Gospel Book, Greece, c. 1100

福音书》中的圣马像希腊 , 约公元 1100 年

Community Ambassadors: their voices

Thank you!

Justyna Chmielewska

Chester Beatty Library

Dublin Castle

Dublin 2

Ph: 01 4070772

www.cbl.ie

Email: jchmielewska@cbl.ie