Clara Wong
BA 2013: Double Major, Art History & Anthropology
Where did Clara work?
Work term 1 (4 months):
Summer Museum Interpreter, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Work term 2 (4 months):
Project Assistant, Vancouver Adapted Music Society
What did Clara accomplish?
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Clara’s most memorable co-op experience was at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. As a Summer Museum Interpreter, she provided interpretive tours of the galleries and heritage homes for visitors, thereby improving her public speaking. Clara also delivered the family painting program, “Earth Meets Sky—Elements of Art,” teaching children about landscape painting. In addition, she enhanced her organization and research skills through data entry for the museum archives, creating new records, scanning and filing. Although Clara had no initial connections in Banff, she soon met people through her work at the museum, as well as by networking through associated non-profit organizations such as BanffLIFE.
Vancouver Adapted Music Society
As a Project Assistant for the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS), Clara gained valuable project management skills as she assisted in organizing all of VAMS’ special events. One such project she helped to coordinate was the “Music Saves” music video in partnership with the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation and Shore 104.3 FM. This music video is created each year, featuring several artists who cover a Canadian song in different locations around Vancouver. The goal is to raise awareness of the value of music to both artists with or without disabilities.
As the intermediary between the Disability Foundation and Shore 104.3 FM, Clara was responsible for scheduling VAMS artists for video shooting and arranging meetings between the two organizations. She also completed research for the VAMS studio, including research on equipment options, jam session locations, and potential sponsors and venues for a possible fall concert.
What would Clara tell others about Arts Co-op?
Through Clara’s work term experiences, she realized how essential co-op has been in developing her overall character and employability. When asked for her advice to prospective students, she said, “There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from your co-op experience. For those who are unsure still, I would go further to say that your co-op experience is largely determined by you. If you choose to work hard, make connections and strive for excellence, your co-op experience will reflect that.”
How did Arts Co-op benefit Clara?
Discovery of New Interests
Both of Clara’s co-op work terms opened up new avenues of interest for her. At the Whyte Museum, she discovered that she really enjoys working in a museum setting and began to consider a future in this area, including potential fields of interest in public programming, archives, curatorship or arts administration. Since Clara was also interested in arts-related non-profit organizations, she chose to work at VAMS for her second term and found an affinity for interacting with clients and other organizations. Equipped with this new knowledge of her strengths and interests, Clara is able to identify that no matter whether her career leads to work at a museum or a non-profit, she would like “to interact with the public in a positive way.”
Professional Experience
Through her work terms, Clara gained many different transferable skills, including interpersonal, written and spoken communication, organizational and research skills. Most importantly, Clara was introduced to the intricacies of the workplace that are not discussed within the university classroom. Her co-op terms give Clara the confidence to say, “When I graduate, I think I will not only have the necessary knowledge to begin my career, but I will also have the experience required to carry myself properly in the workplace.”
In addition to this valuable, first-hand work experience, Clara will graduate with excellent resume-writing skills, letters of reference and contacts in the workforce who may be able to help her find positions that are not advertised to the general public.
Clara Wong
BA 2013: Double Major, Art History & Anthropology
Where did Clara work?
Work term 1 (4 months):
Summer Museum Interpreter, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Work term 2 (4 months):
Project Assistant, Vancouver Adapted Music Society
What did Clara accomplish?
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Clara’s most memorable co-op experience was at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. As a Summer Museum Interpreter, she provided interpretive tours of the galleries and heritage homes for visitors, thereby improving her public speaking. Clara also delivered the family painting program, “Earth Meets Sky—Elements of Art,” teaching children about landscape painting. In addition, she enhanced her organization and research skills through data entry for the museum archives, creating new records, scanning and filing. Although Clara had no initial connections in Banff, she soon met people through her work at the museum, as well as by networking through associated non-profit organizations such as BanffLIFE.
Vancouver Adapted Music Society
As a Project Assistant for the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS), Clara gained valuable project management skills as she assisted in organizing all of VAMS’ special events. One such project she helped to coordinate was the “Music Saves” music video in partnership with the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation and Shore 104.3 FM. This music video is created each year, featuring several artists who cover a Canadian song in different locations around Vancouver. The goal is to raise awareness of the value of music to both artists with or without disabilities.
As the intermediary between the Disability Foundation and Shore 104.3 FM, Clara was responsible for scheduling VAMS artists for video shooting and arranging meetings between the two organizations. She also completed research for the VAMS studio, including research on equipment options, jam session locations, and potential sponsors and venues for a possible fall concert.
What would Clara tell others about Arts Co-op?
Through Clara’s work term experiences, she realized how essential co-op has been in developing her overall character and employability. When asked for her advice to prospective students, she said, “There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from your co-op experience. For those who are unsure still, I would go further to say that your co-op experience is largely determined by you. If you choose to work hard, make connections and strive for excellence, your co-op experience will reflect that.”
How did Arts Co-op benefit Clara?
Discovery of New Interests
Both of Clara’s co-op work terms opened up new avenues of interest for her. At the Whyte Museum, she discovered that she really enjoys working in a museum setting and began to consider a future in this area, including potential fields of interest in public programming, archives, curatorship or arts administration. Since Clara was also interested in arts-related non-profit organizations, she chose to work at VAMS for her second term and found an affinity for interacting with clients and other organizations. Equipped with this new knowledge of her strengths and interests, Clara is able to identify that no matter whether her career leads to work at a museum or a non-profit, she would like “to interact with the public in a positive way.”
Professional Experience
Through her work terms, Clara gained many different transferable skills, including interpersonal, written and spoken communication, organizational and research skills. Most importantly, Clara was introduced to the intricacies of the workplace that are not discussed within the university classroom. Her co-op terms give Clara the confidence to say, “When I graduate, I think I will not only have the necessary knowledge to begin my career, but I will also have the experience required to carry myself properly in the workplace.”
In addition to this valuable, first-hand work experience, Clara will graduate with excellent resume-writing skills, letters of reference and contacts in the workforce who may be able to help her find positions that are not advertised to the general public.