Meet Mia: Q&A with Shivani Kamat, Visitor Experience Representative
Meet Mia is a bimonthly series highlighting museum staff—the talented humans who help make Mia a community treasure. Watch for new Q&As in People & Culture.
By Tara Kaushik
October 2, 2025—Shivani Kamat has taught elementary students and gotten her hands dirty working on an archeological dig at a monastery in Ireland. At Mia’s Contact Center, it can sometimes feel like she’s doing both at once—answering many questions, unearthing obscure information, and getting creative when the situation calls for it.
Speedrun
- Role: Visitor Experience Representative, Phones/Contact Center
- How long you’ve worked at Mia: Almost two years
- Favorite artwork in the collection: Arose
- Go-to Eat Street lunch order: A grilled beef bánh mì from Lu’s Sandwiches
What is your favorite part of working in the Visitor Experience department?
The people. We are a small team in the Contact Center, but the number of times that we hear people on the phones say something to the effect of, oh, my gosh, I’m so glad I’m talking to a real person. I thought I was just going to be talking to a robot! They really value the chance to have a person-to-person interaction, and it’s part of the joy of the job for us as well!
There are people who call us frequently, and after a while, you recognize them, and it builds relationships with our visitors and community. The level of customer service we’re able to provide is a unique thing at a museum of our size. And it’s all down to our team—I’m so happy to be a part of it, and work with some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I think the people are really what make Mia, Mia.
What’s the most common question you get from visitors calling the Contact Center?
The cost of general admission. I love being able to tell people that Mia is always free.
What do you think is the secret to providing visitors with a great experience?
Patience and understanding. And empathy. Art museums don’t always feel like the most accessible or approachable places, especially for anyone who hasn’t spent a lot of time in one before. Extending genuine compassion and warmth to our visitors is key to letting them know that they are always welcome here at Mia.
Tell me a story about working in the Contact Center.
Someone called us once searching for a particular painting. He was able to describe the work to me in vivid detail, but didn’t know the name of it. So I reached out to Emily Ross on our team—she’s a scholar of European paintings and loves taking on any kind of project related to them. I asked the caller to stay on the line while I relayed the details he had shared with me to Emily.
Less than a minute after I described the painting to her, she responded, asking if it was Pompeo Girolamo Batoni’s Allegory of Peace and War—and it was! The painting is actually part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, but the gentleman was so happy and grateful for Emily’s quick help. He sent us a lovely letter and a donation afterward.
What would you be if you were not working as a Visitor Experience Representative?
Oh, man. What would I not be? There are so many things I could see myself doing in the future. I want to write a book. I want to work with animals in some capacity. I want to be an archaeologist. I want to be a filmmaker. I have so many different interests, I want to try a little bit of everything! But to give you one answer, probably a writer. Or an archaeologist.
What makes Shahzia Sikander’s Arose your favorite piece in the collection?
I was just enamored by it the first time I saw it—I wanted to look closer. It’s an incredibly intricate, detailed, and beautiful work. I haven’t always seen myself reflected in large works of art in museums. The conception of art I had growing up was of those really grand, classical European paintings. I think it’s great how Mia invests in having a broad, diverse collection. It offers something for everyone.
What do you get up to outside of work?
I spend a lot of time reading. I actually created a staff book club here at Mia, called Bookbang! I enjoy spending time with my cats, going camping with my boyfriend, and playing video games—some of my favorites are Skyrim and The Last of Us.
What are you singing at karaoke night?
Has to be No Scrubs by TLC.