Volunteer Spotlight: Alice Campbell
Posted on 19 January 2026
Meet Alice Campbell, Third year Art History and History student at the University of Manchester. Alice recently completed a 10-week placement with Castlefield Gallery. As it draws to a close, we caught up to reflect on the placement. Alice and her fellow placement students have also been busy planning to deliver a public event as part of their time with us! Read more about the student takeover here.
Hi Alice! Tell us a little about yourself. When did you start your placement with Castlefield Gallery?
Hey, I am currently studying my third year of Art History and History at The University of Manchester. I am particularly interested in getting more people to interact with art and creating a sense of belonging, inside and out of the gallery space. I started my placement in September this year.
What made you want to do a placement here?
I had visited Castlefield Gallery many times before starting my placement and was met with some really interesting exhibitions and people, so when the opportunity of the placement came about, I was keen to get involved. I was interested in Castlefield’s connection to the surrounding community and support for artists in the North West. I thought it was an inviting and exiting artistic space in Manchester prior to starting my placement, volunteering here has only confirmed my enjoyment and appreciation for the gallery.
I thought [Castlefield Gallery] was an inviting and exiting artistic space in Manchester prior to starting my placement, volunteering here has only confirmed my enjoyment and appreciation for the gallery.Alice Campbell
What is your favourite thing about working with Castlefield Gallery?
Each day I come into the gallery I don’t know what to expect, there is such a variety of tasks that I have worked on since starting my placement. The unexpected makes doing a placement here entertaining, as well as a good insight into how the art world works. Alongside the events, everyone at Castlefield Gallery is full of enthusiasm and curiosity for contemporary art, I have really enjoyed meeting everyone that works at the gallery, associate artists and interested members of the public, the creative ideas everyone shares makes the gallery an exciting community to be part of.
What would you say to students who want to do a placement at Castlefield Gallery?
The gallery is such a welcoming environment, doing a placement here will give you a great introduction into working within the arts. Be inquisitive and ask a lot of questions, everyone is willing to give their knowledge and also wants to hear yours. Have fun with it!
Student Takeover: It Requires getting Lost - Sensing the (un)familiar
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