Provan Hall Community Management Trust
Published: 28 September 2026
Gardens through Time: Community Engagement for Exhibitions placement
Host organisation: Provan Hall Community Management Trust
Project title: Gardens through Time: Community Engagement for Exhibitions placement
Project description
The placement is part of Provan Hall Community Management Trust’s Exhibition and Community Engagement Programme, exploring how community engagement can shape the development and direction of exhibitions while providing opportunities for the local community to engage with Provan Hall’s history and green spaces.
The placement will focus on our upcoming Gardens Through Time exhibition, due to be installed in June 2027. The exhibition will explore the evolution of the gardens at Provan Hall, including the lost medieval spaces, surviving images of the Georgian terrace gardens, and the 20th-century walled garden, consulting archive material to shape historical research and engagements. As part of the exhibition development, the placement will involve researching and developing a programme of community engagement activities that will help shape the direction and content of the exhibition.
A particular focus will be on exploring, documenting and developing Provan Hall’s garden as a community asset. Provan Hall underwent renovation and reopened in 2023; however, during the renovation, the garden was not maintained and is currently underutilised. The placement will provide an opportunity to explore how heritage research, community engagement and exhibition development can work together to support the future use of the garden.
The PhD student will contribute to the development of the engagement programme, working with the Trust and local community groups to identify opportunities for participation and knowledge exchange. The placement will provide experience of applying research skills within a community heritage setting, including research, interpretation, community engagement to develop the direction of the Gardens Through Time exhibition.
Outputs
- To research and reflect on how the history of Provan Halls gardens, can create opportunities for community engagement.
- To run a pilot programme of approximately 6 community workshops with local groups in Provan Hall’s gardens.
- To develop a portfolio including pictures, feedback and reflections on the community workshop pilot with suggestions on how the work can be displayed as part of the final exhibition which will be open to the public.
In person/remote/hybrid
In-person.
This internship will take place for most of the time in office at Provan Hall; this will allow the research to liaise with Provan Hall staff, volunteers and local community groups. As well have access to Provan Halls archive materials.
However, there can be some flexibility around remote working for planning purposes.
Benefits to the researcher
This placement will benefit the researcher, by supporting them to develop and deliver academic theory into real-world community engagement settings, embedding participatory heritage practice into the development of Provan Halls temporary exhibition programme.
They will gain experience in heritage research to inform exhibition development and community engagement workshops. Through working directly with staff and volunteers, they will gain insights into the operations of small heritage sites, and gain hands on experience of working with community groups. They will also gain experience of developing and evaluating community workshops, creating insights that will have real-world application to how Provan Hall approaches its exhibition programme.
The placement will be particularly relevant to researchers interested in the intersection of heritage, green spaces and community development, and will provide opportunities to develop transferable skills in research, collaboration, facilitation and public engagement.
Key relationships
The researcher will develop professional relationships with Provan Hall Community Management Trusts staff developing a close working relationship with the engagement co-ordinator, who is overseeing the exhibition and community engagement programme. Alongside working with Provan Halls property manager, engagement assistant and garden volunteers.
They will work with local stakeholders within the Easterhouse community, and groups potentially including college groups, local schools, and community groups.
Subject areas
This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:
Landscape and Environmental Archaeology; Architecture; Design; Curating; Museum and Gallery Studies; Museum Policy & Management; Cultural Geography; Heritage Management; Policy, Arts Management and Creative Industries; Cultural Studies and Pop Culture; Cultural History; Economic and Social History; Scottish Studies.
Person specification
A1. Knowledge Base
- Essential: Subject knowledge; Research methods – Practical application; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management.
- Desirable: Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Languages.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
- Essential: Critical thinking; Evaluating; Problem Solving.
- Desirable: Analysing; Synthesising.
A3. Creativity
- Essential: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight; Innovation.
B1. Personal qualities
- Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Integrity; Self-reflection; Self-confidence; Responsibility.
B2. Self management
- Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Time management; Responsiveness to change; Work-life balance.
B3. Professional & career development
- Desirable: Responsiveness to opportunities; Networking.
C1. Professional conduct
- Essential: Health and Safety; Ethics, principles and sustainability; Legal requirements; IPR and copyright; Respect and confidentiality; Appropriate practice.
C2. Research management
- Essential: Project planning and delivery; Risk management.
- Desirable: Research Strategy.
C3. Finance, funding & resources
- Essential: Infrastructure and resources.
- Desirable: Financial management.
D1. Working with others
- Essential: Collegiality; Team working; Collaboration; Equality and diversity.
- Desirable: People management; Supervision.
D2. Communication & dissemination
- Essential: Communication methods.
- Desirable: Communication media.
D3. Engagement & impact
- Essential: Public Engagement.
- Desirable: Society and culture.
First published: 28 September 2026