Young People's Blog Series - Reflections on under-represented people in the museum sector

My name is Sinead McGeechan, I am a young freelancer in the Museum’s Young People Skills programme. I am an Irish working-class woman and during my time on the programme I have learned many things, from being a support tutor in the Route into Work programme to collaborating with teams across the Museum like the Marketing team - skills you don’t have the opportunity to learn unless you know someone that is already in the role.

I aspire to be an illustrator and am interested in folklore and unrepresented true stories of women. Graduating from university I had no clue how to direct myself in the art sector. I spent a large amount of my time in museums and galleries across London for many months. I spent most of my time drawing and thinking how museums could be more accessible for the working class and BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities.

I have had amazing opportunities to use my creativity with London Transport Museum and other organisations like Tate, Hogarth House and UAL (University of the Arts London). I have supported young people from under-represented backgrounds, and illustrated zines about lesser-known stories of women in transport history such as the zine for the Where are all the Women? project. One thing I noticed when doing this project is that a lot of the women that I included in the zine are either not shown in the museum or have such a small area to show how amazing they really are. Which is why I found doing the project such an eye opening experience. During my time in education I was told I could achieve anything I wanted, however when you reach a certain age you realise there are many things which may be obstructing that dream. I hope every woman that is considering doing any transport related career can see how women have made a difference in this field. 

Thanks to the Where are all the women? project I learned about women like Hannah Dadds, the first female tube driver, who has not only made a huge difference for women in transport, but has also influenced many women coming from a working-class background. With her example, she encouraged them to never stop believing in their goals and dreams. People like Hannah Dadds, as well as many other women, men, white or BAME, have made a huge difference to London Transport. I am very lucky to have the opportunities that I have right now, and I want to push and influence other working-class people to not give up on what they want to achieve.

Before joining the team at London Transport Museum, I have collaborated with Hogarth House, using my creative side to design workshops for children that may have never been to a museum or done anything creative before. I also worked at Tate as a project manager, where I organised an immersive drop-in workshop inspired by fairy tales and woodland folklore where visitors could make a fairy, hang it on a tree and then sit back, relax and listen to some ancient folklore tales. 

The support that has been given to me at London Transport Museum allowed me to develop skills that are very hard to gain unless you already know someone in this role, for example marketing skills. Ahead of the Museum reopening after the first lockdown on 7 September 2020, I helped organise a social media campaign called #IHeartLTM, alongside a moquette sock competition asking followers of the Museum to design their own moquette pattern.

While being on the Young Freelancers programme, I have been able to be a support worker for young people that are under-represented, have low employment or no employment and are between the age of 16-25. As many studies show, anyone that is from an under-represented background is less likely to achieve their goals and pursue their preferred career than someone from a privileged background. The 2018 Panic! Report by Arts Emergency clearly stated the lack of diversity and fairness that is displayed in the arts and museum sectors.

Being from a working-class background I was able to relate to these young people on a personal level and knowing I made a difference with them by providing the support that they need to get from A to B. I hope for anyone that reads this blog that it will inspire them to push for what they want to achieve for their future and their career.