UARDIANS OF THE GALLERY

Museum staff reveal their op artefacts

In every museum and gallery, a dedicated army of cleaners, security staff and attendants are the caretakers of our nation’s artistic and cultural treasures and buildings. They might not hold degrees in art history or archaeology but they have a unique view and an intimate knowledge of the artworks The women’s library is a misnomer as it’s not just a library and we let men in.

When I told my oldest sister I’d got a job cleaning the library, she said, ‘I wouldn’t get any cleaning done. I’d sit and read the books.’

But I’ve got dyslexia and reading hurts my head.

My favourite object in the library is a Victorian umbrella stand, painted by suffragettes in Duke

Street Prison, Glasgow, in the colours of the suffragette movement – green, white and purple.

When the prison was demolished in 1958, a social worker who knew the history of the object found it in a skip, rescued it and it was later gifted to Glasgow

Women’s Library.

The governor of the prison had given the suffragettes the stand, with some paint, to raise their spirits.” and objects they work alongside every day.

Inspired by a new BBC Sounds podcast by artist Eloise Moody, The Caretakers, the Sunday Mail spoke to the museum and gallery staff on what they love best about the places where they work and the collections they see.

Monika, 40, who is originally from Poland, has worked as a cleaner at the National Museum of Scotland for the past five years.

I feel very privileged to be responsible for looking after the treasures that so many visitors come from all over to admire.

I get real job satisfaction making sure everything is all nice, clean and presentable. I particularly love when you see young children come into the museum and watching their faces and eyes light up in awe.

When my family comes over from Poland to visit, I always bring them to the museum and show them around, explaining a bit about the exhibits if I can and the history behind them. I don’t know all the history – it would take me years to learn. Dolly the cloned sheep is one of my favourites. I was amazed to learn she was cloned from a cell from one sheep and an egg from another. Every morning when I pass her, I always say hello. I love to look at her and read the history about her – plus she was named after Dolly Parton, which makes me smile.

I love my job here and wouldn’t swap it for the world.