HEERA ALAYA

ARTERIES

“We work with people of different personalities and nationalities
and do our best to protect everyone. And we want to be appreciated.”

DIAMOND
Museum guard, USA

July 1st, 2022

Heera Alaya: Diamond, could you walk me through a typical workday?

Diamond: I work six days a week, waking up between 6:00 am and 7:00 am. I leave my home around 8:00 am to reach the museum. I usually stop at McDonald’s for breakfast, which isn’t the healthiest choice. I typically arrive at the museum by 9:15 am, prepare for the opening, and end my day by 5.45 pm, getting home around 7.00 pm.

My day off can be long and tiring too, as I have so much to take care of—washing clothes, visiting the doctor, shopping for groceries, paying bills, and cleaning the house; it is never-ending.

I understand.

Do you work on holidays?

We are required to work on holidays if our schedule includes them. Christmas is a holiday.

What are the rewards and challenges of being a museum guard?

The rewarding part of working in a museum is the cheerful ambience, seeing all the artists’ works and exhibits (which come from passion), and being appreciated by people who value our job: “Thank you for doing what you are doing.”

Trust me; we don’t encounter smiling faces every day. For instance, this morning, when I asked a man to open his bag, he screamed, “You are mean; you are nasty.” The unruly man then went to confront my coworker. There is prejudice—certain people believe we have no authority to question them. It is challenging to deal with disrespectful people who disregard rules.

I have served as a museum guard for three years. Standing all day is starting to take a toll on me. I have arthritis in my knee. And today, I am in a lot of pain.

How should one prepare for a museum visit?

A national museum is federal property. Visitors must be aware of prohibited items, such as pepper spray, tasers and marijuana. People planning to visit a museum must understand where they are going and familiarise themselves with the museum’s specific rules.

Visitors must understand what they can bring and how they are expected to behave within the museum premises.  Museum guards inspect bags and, if we find prohibited material, we may have to turn visitors away or, in some cases, dispose of their bags.

What should people be aware of about museum guards?

Museum guards encounter new challenges every single day. We work with people of different personalities and nationalities and do our best to protect everyone. Our mission is to protect both the visitors and the museum. And we want to be appreciated for our efforts.

And we do [appreciate museum guards]. Thank you for sharing your time.

Thank you for showing interest in my work.

Photographer for Animals, CA