Volunteering opportunities in the arts
Becoming a volunteer can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. The arts and creative sector is a popular choice for volunteering and there are many opportunities. Many groups and organisations would find it difficult to undertake the full activities they do or run their organisation with out the help of volunteers.
Current volunteering opportunities
Topolski Century seeks voluntary visitor guides and educators.
The Topolski Century is due to reopen soon on the South Bank. It is the artists Topolski’s memoir to the 20th Century.
Topolski Century is looking for individuals to take part in voluntary work in the museum as guides/educators. Ideally you would have experience in working with the public, and a desire to help them get the most of their visit.
Voluntary Visitor Guides
Skills Required:
- Experience in providing customer service would be an advantage.
- Enthusiasm and interest in art and a willingness to learn about the Topolski century is essential.
- Flexible with working hours
- Committed and reliable
- Enjoys working with the public.
Job spec and duties:
- Welcoming visitors into the Toplolski Century
- Acting as a guide, providing information to visitors and answering their queries.
- Assisting in the selling of related retail merchandise
- Helping to keep the retail area tidy and correctly merchandised.
- Ensuring visitors have a rewarding experience.
They will offer:
- An induction and ongoing support and training
- A reference/and or letter of recommendation for future employment.
- The opportunity to undertake varied tasks.
Volunteer Educators
They are looking for a person who:
- Has an interest and understanding of the 20th century history
- Has an interest and understanding of contemporary art
- Is willing to attain a working knowledge of the Museum exhibits, ie. Feliks Topolski’s art
- Likes working with the public and is keen to communicate with them as a guide or through discussion and practical activities
- Is confident in written and spoken English
- Has very good verbal communication skills
- Is attentive to detail and has ability to work relatively unsupervised and show initiative
- Is reliable and committed
- Has a sense of humour, resourcefulness and creative imagination
While at the Topolski Century you will:
- Work directly with groups in the gallery and/or in workshop settings.
- Find out more about organisations working with schools, community groups and families
- Observe and participate in aspects of events in the gallery and during off-site visits and meetings.
- Gain experience of working with different types of museum audiences
- Learn about delivering projects and programmes in a museum education context.
- Learn about other specialist roles in the museum
- Develop experience which will be a valuable addition to your CV
Please note that this a volunteer activity and as such is understood to be outside the scope of the National Minimum Wage legislation.
Topolski Century is unable to make an offer of permanent employment at the end of the programme.
However, we will provide a reference letter for future employment.
For more information contact:
Fiona Young, Operations Manager
Tel: 020 7420 9707
Email: fyoung@topolskicentury.org.uk
Volunteering opportunity for young people aged 16-25
For young people who would like to get involved and earn their place in the audience at a concert performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
For more information visit: Orange Rock Corps website
Email: Somora.Rattray@southbanklondon.com
Cirque Nova recruiting disabled volunteers
Cirque Nova is looking for London based young people in the age range 16 - 25 who want to learn circus skills.
They will be training 20 young disabled people in several physical skills, such as Aerial: climbing, hanging upside down, and turning and twisting in the air, poi juggling, hula-hoop manipulation and stilt walking.
They are looking for people with any kind of disability that may be interested in Physical training, a challenge, as well as the opportunity to join a company that will provide you with employment in the performing arts, as self employed artists after a 6 month training program.
The focus of the company's educational program is to assist young and disabled people in developing increased confidence and self-esteem.
Their workshops offer high levels of physical training, with the focus being upon participation and enjoyment.
Email for more information: cirquenova@googlemail.com
Red Gate Gallery is looking for interns to start immediately
The intern scheme has been established by Red Gate Gallery in order to aid artists and individuals who are interested to gain experience within a busy gallery environment.
Red Gate Gallery also provides a skill improvement scheme for individuals with learning difficulties, working closely with 'Bede House Association' (Southwark).
Tasks as part of the training are as follows:
Answering telephone enquiries about studio and gallery hire. Liaising with artists and artist groups. Administration work, including: large mail-outs, replying to emails, data-inputting, writing of letters, returning of phone calls, contacting press agents, learning how to update the website with Dreamweaver, as well as internet postings etc.
Writing of draft press releases. Assisting with the curating and organisation of shows and other events. Helping at busy opening nights and evening events (paid work). Helping to keep the gallery clean, tidy and presentable.
Terms and conditions for interns:
The contracts are 6 months (this can be extended if the intern wishes to do so) in duration with a months trial period. The intern can choose to work 1 or 2 afternoons per week.
Please email Yara: info@redgategallery.co.uk
Or call on 0207 3260993 for further queries or to set up an interview.
Artefacts Edutainment
Volunteering opportunities for Young People
Artefacts Edutainment runs various ongoing volunteering programmes for young people aged 16 - 25.
For more information on the organisation and their programme please visit the Artefacts Edutainment website.
Volunteers and Trustees for Brixton Community Base
Brixton Community Base is an Arts based organisation in Lambeth. They are currently known as Brixton Community Centre.
As well as offering rehearsal space they run their own arts based projects including drama, circus skills and music workshops for 6-13 year olds, a film project for teenagers, 'Bling your Bike', and a music project for unaccompanied asylum seekers under 18.
They are looking for the following:
- Minutes secretary (to attend a monthly meeting and take and circulate minutes)
- Volunteer to help with monitoring, evaluation and project manage 'Sound mix' a weekly project run in conjunction with the refugee council
- Volunteers and potential Trustees prepared to be hands on in taking responsibility for projects/events in conjunction with the project leader and our development worker, or with fund-raising. marketing, book-keeping skills
For more information contact Carofunnell@bsvcc.org or visit the Brixton St Vincent's Community Centre website
Brixton Shed Volunteer Recruitment
Brixton Shed is an exciting theatre project for young people in the Lambeth area and opens its doors to all young people aged between 7-18 years old. They recruit skilled and enthusiastic individuals who have an appreciation of how the arts can be used as an inclusive method, to volunteer for the project in a number of different ways. They run weekly sessions once a week at Brixton Community Base (formerly St Vincents Community Centre).
If you would like more information please contact Brixton Shed on 07758 642233 or email: brixtonshed@hotmail.co.uk