New aspirant strengthens the collection work by Nordlandsmuseet
Nordlandsmuseet has received a grant from the Arts Council of Norway's trainee scheme to hire a full-time trainee. From 1 January 2027, Irena Hishchynska will take on the role to strengthen the collection work.
The Aspirant Scheme is managed by the Arts Council of Norway and provides grants to arts and cultural organisations to employ an aspirant in a time-limited, 100% position. The purpose is to contribute to broader recruitment to arts and culture-related professions.
— Irena has shown great commitment to the collection work since she started her internship in 2024. The assistant position gives her the opportunity to immerse herself in the archive and collections over a longer period of time, says department head Marija Griniuk.
Irena is 32 years old, comes from Ukraine and has lived in Norway for three and a half years. She has a master's degree in history. The path to Nordlandsmuseet started with practice in December 2024, first at The Jekt Trade Museum and then at the City Museum in Bodø . As of January 2026, she has worked 70 percent with exhibitions, objects and archives. This position will last until 2026. After that, she will enter the full-time aspirant position.
— I am happy about this opportunity. I will work with the collections and the archive together with conservator Sylwia Mosko. We will register objects, as well as mount new exhibitions, says Irena. She highlights the work with exhibitions and preparations as her favorite part of the job, in addition to meeting with the public.
— I still work a little at the reception desk at The Jekt Trade Museum . It is important to tell people about the museum, help people and get to know the local history better. Museums preserve what can easily be lost and it is important for the next generation.
— It is 60 feet long and has both clinker and caravel skin, and it is an important part of Norwegian history, and the world's only preserved original Nordland ship. Nordlandsmuseet bought it from a fishmonger in Lofoten in 1954, and it was landed in Bodøsjøen in 1959, where The Jekt Trade Museum was built around her. Working around such an object every day is special.
About the aspirant scheme
The Aspirant Scheme is managed by the Arts Council of Norway and is intended to counteract structural discrimination in recruitment to arts and culture-related professions. Ethnic, cultural and linguistic background can constitute an obstacle to such recruitment.
The scheme provides grants to employ artists or cultural workers with an ethnic minority background in a full-time position as an aspirant, normally for one year. The company undertakes to give the aspirant tasks that ensure professional development and strengthen the aspirant's opportunities in the arts and cultural life.
Read more at k ulturdirektoratet.no .
