Volunteer Ushers
The Abrons Arts Center supports the presentation of innovative, multi-disciplinary work; cultivates artists in all stages of their creative development through educational programs and residencies; and serves as an intersection of cultural engagement for local, national, and international audiences and art-workers.
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Arts Discipline:
Theater
Position Description:
- Greet patrons attending events
- Sell or collect admission tickets and passes at entertainment events
- Usher patrons to seats or exits
- Examine tickets or passes to verify authenticity
- Distribute programs to patrons
- Provide assistance with patrons’ special needs, such as helping those with wheelchairs
- Resolve customer complaints or problems
Purpose:
The Abrons Arts Center is the performing and visual arts center of Henry Street Settlement. We are looking for volunteers to assist with ushering shows in our theater.
Qualifications and Skills:
Development/ Special Events, Must be 18 or older
Number of Volunteers:
5
The Abrons Art Center holds 5 shows a week. We could use one volunteer per show.
Time Commitment:
The time commitment would be 2.5 hours for volunteers. One hour pre show, the show and then theater clearance and check for trash and lost items afterwards.
Days of Week - Weekends
Times of Day - Evenings
Schedule - Flexible
Engagement & Outreach Volunteer
Museum of Impact is the world’s first social justice museum,'Curating the Current' & 'Archiving the Now'! We examine art and activism through a social justice lens. We affirm communities’ lived experiences using culturally resonant art and activities to connect with everyday people. MOI is deeply concerned with what’s happening in the world, and we highlight changemakers and Upstanders who are uplifting communities. Our exhibits and programs are centered in the public interest of culture, contemporary issues, social action, and engaged art.
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Arts Discipline:
Museum
Position Description:
The position description outlines the responsibilities and benefits of specific volunteer opportunities, and identifies what support or training the organization will provide. A well thought out description defines the assignment, details, abilities and interests integral to performing the task successfully.
We're currently seeking an energetic capable Engagement volunteers to help with a number of tasks including: Outreach to national cultural spaces to help us travel our exhibit around the country. And continuing to design an amazing visitor experience for the museum of impact. This is an opportunity to understand what it takes to build an institution from grassroots to greatand curate museum exhibit, while flexing your creative muscles and fresh ideas with a local museum.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this position is to create a new exhibit around a social justice theme (Immigration / Mass Incarceration) research details, plan, design, coordinate and select art work required for the creation of mobile social justice exhibit and multimedia participatory elements, (including models, natural features, display fixtures, graphics and interactive elements).
This position will participate in the conceptual design and development of exhibits by gathering supporting information via research, working in collaboration to develop thematic elements and improve upon existing exhibits. An aptitude and interest social justice subject matter is desirable.
Qualifications and Skills:
Special Events, Graphic Design, Legal, Marketing, Operations, Photography & Video, Strategic or Program Planning, Public Relations, Research, Social Media, Technology, Web Design
Number of Volunteers:
7
Time Commitment:
3 months
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Flexible
Schedule - Flexible
Family Festival Volunteers
Cool Culture ensures that New York’s most diverse families with preschool-aged children have access to arts and culture as a way to increase literacy and learning in early childhood and to prepare children to succeed in school. Each year, Cool Culture improves outcomes for New York City children by partnering with 90 premiere museums and cultural institutions, working with 400 early childhood programs and public schools, and providing over 50,000 low-income families with free, unlimited access to the city’s museums.
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Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Museum
Position Description:
Cool Culture will be partnering with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Queens Museum for two large family festivals known as the Get Out and Go campaign. The Get Out and Go events attract hundreds of Cool Culture families for a fun-filled day of music and dance performances, storytelling, art-making, and museum exploration. For many families this will be their first time visiting a museum. Cool Culture relies on the support of volunteers to make this memorable experience as welcoming and accessible as possible for our diverse community. Volunteers have an active role in, leading hands-on activities, language interpretation, and assisting with event logistics during these events.
Purpose:
The Get Out and Go events are Cool Culture’s method of supporting families in museum exploration, many of whom will be visiting a museum for the very first time. Volunteers are integral in creating a welcoming, accessible, and memorable family experience for our diverse communities.
Qualifications and Skills:
Interest in the arts and education, bilingual fluency in English and/or Spanish, Mandarin, and/or Cantonese for volunteer interpreters.
Number of Volunteers:
40-100
Lunar New Year: 35-40 volunteers
Catch the Cool: 80-100 volunteer
Time Commitment:
Volunteers can sign up for one or all of the events. Each of the days are about 6 hours long.
Days of Week - Weekends
Times of Day - Mornings and Afternoons
Mural Production Volunteers
ARTE uses art, design, and technology to empower young people to develop creative solutions and bring awareness to local and global human rights challenges. Committed to providing quality human rights education in both a local and global context, we work with youth populations across New York City to create art with our communities. We are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of social justice leaders creating public works of art that seek to transform the way communities understand and realize human rights in their own backyard.
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Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Arts Services, Visual Arts, Other
Position Description:
We have an opportunity for mural production volunteers! No previous experience necessary, although familiarity with painting materials preferred. Mural production volunteers will support young people in the completion of a mural or public art project. Volunteers will handle the paint and help youth execute their mural design. Our mural projects are capstones on our curriculum with youth, and are scheduled as youth are completing our workshop series. Mural projects are usually executed on Saturdays. Interested? Sign up on our website, www.artejustice.org. When our next mural project is scheduled, we will invite available volunteers to attend a Google Hangout orientation, providing volunteers information about handling art supplies, working with young people, and an overview of the day's schedule. Mural production volunteers are asked to commit to two Saturdays, to be able to participate from start to finish. We complete murals and public and studio art projects with our youth participants at the conclusion of every workshop series we facilitate. Mural production volunteers are an integral component of this work. Volunteers get the opportunity to work hand in hand with our youth to facilitate the success of their final project.
We also have the opportunity for artists (muralists, graffiti artists, studio artists) and activistis to volunteer as a guest speaker during our workshops. Volunteer teaching artists and teaching activists can present on their work, and increase students' exposure and experience. Interested? Sign up on our website, www.artejustice.org or email Marissa at [email protected]. We will ask you to complete a short survey describing your work and your availability. If invited to participate as a guest, we will schedule an orientation Google Hangout with you to discuss details and the day schedule. Teaching artist or teaching activist volunteers are asked to commit to at least 1 workshop, and are invited back to join for the art unveiling at the conclusion of the youths' project. Teaching artists and activists help contribute to the richness of our program by inspiring youth as to the power of their possibilities, and the impact that art and action can play.
Purpose:
The mural production volunteers support our youth participants to bring their vision and design into fruition, and raise awareness for their concerns on justice and human rights through public arts.
Teaching artists and activists help bring richness to our programs, but expanding the exposure that our youth participants have to arts and action.
Qualifications and Skills:
Professional Skills - Graphic Design, Photography & Video, Social Media, Artists and Acitivists
Mural production volunteers do not need any specific skills.
Number of Volunteers:
3-10
Time Commitment:
Mural production volunteers are asked to commit at least 2 Saturdays.
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Afternoons
Schedule - Flexible
Brookyln Superhero Supply Co. Volunteer
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Our volunteers are multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-lingual adults who share a common interest in support New York’s youngest authors.
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Literary
Position Description:
If you’re disappointed by the lack of opportunities to flex your super-heroic muscles, then you might want to volunteer in our Superhero Supply Co. store selling capes, secret identity kits and cans of all kinds of superhero necessities–intelligence, invisibility, and gravity to name a few. You can assist shoppers as they use our De-Villainizer, Cape Tester, and more. The Superhero Supply Co. is 826NYC's gateway to the community, so we rely on volunteers to also share with customers the organization's mission. All proceeds from the store go toward supporting 826NYC's free creative writing programs.
The store is open seven days a week from 11:00am-5:00pm, but volunteers are asked to come in three-hour shifts from 11:00am-2:00pm or 2:00pm-5:00pm.
Purpose:
Help customers navigate the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. while aslo explaining its association with 826NYC.
Qualifications and Skills:
Volunteers should be comfortable interacting with and engaging the store's customers.
Number of Volunteers:
2 volunteer/shift
Time Commitment:
Volunteers typically take one 3 hour shift/week.
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Mornings & Afternoons
Schedule - Flexible
Field Trips Assistant
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Our volunteers are multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-lingual adults who share a common interest in support New York’s youngest authors.
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Literary
Position Description:
During field trips, enthusiastic volunteers work with the students and behind the scenes to make the storytelling and bookmaking experience come to life. We are always looking typists and charismatic leaders to facilitate the writing process. If that’s not your thing, or you’re just more of the shy type, we’d love for you to join our diligent behind-the-scenes printing and bookbinding team.
Field trips take place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00am to 12:30pm at our Park Slope center.
Purpose:
To help execute our field trips, create a safe and creative space for both imaginative learning, and encourage attending students to share their ideas.
Qualifications and Skills:
Patience, willingness to work with elementary to high school students.
Number of Volunteers:
4-8
Time Commitment:
One time commitment. Field trips take place M-Th, 10am-12:30pm.
Days of Week - Weekdays
Times of Day - Mornings
Schedule - Flexible
After-School Tutor
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Our volunteers are multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-lingual adults who share a common interest in support New York’s youngest authors.
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Literary
Position Description:
After-School tutoring is a homework-help program where volunteers work with students to complete their homework and engage in enrichment writing activities, all while allowing you to flex your math, science, history, and writing muscles. Tutoring also offers you the chance to commit to a consistent day each week and get to know a bunch of awesome students and volunteers.
After-school tutoring takes place at our Park Slope center Sunday through Thursday from 3:00-5:30pm and at our Williamsburg Library Satellite location Monday through Thursday from 3:00-5:30pm.
Purpose:
To help students acheive academic success as well as engage them with creative writing activities.
Qualifications and Skills:
Patience, willingness to work with young students.
Number of Volunteers:
We aim to have 10 volunteers present for each tutoring session.
Time Commitment:
We ask volunteers to commit to 1 day/week for atleast 2 months.
Days of Week - Weekdays
Times of Day - Afternoons
Interactive Public Art Event
ProjectArt is an award winning NYC based arts education nonprofit, providing free after school visual arts classes in public libraries across the city.
Address: 601 West 26th Street, Suite 325. New York, NY 10001
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education
Position Description:
We are looking for volunteers who believe, like we do, that creative expression is a human need. On October 17th, Volunteers will:
- Meet at the ProjectArt Office, 601 West 26th St., at 10 am to pick up studio supplies to distribute to their assigned stations across the city.
- Between 12pm - 3pm, volunteers will work in pairs to engage community members nearby the location, encouraging them to express themselves on the canvas and share the results on social media.
-After the event, volunteers will bring the finished artworks back to the ProjectArt office tobe prepared for the exhibition.
Purpose:
On Saturday October 17th, 75 pop up studios will appear in 35 locations across New York City, each with a blank canvas waiting to be energized by the self-expression of passerby. On October 20th, all of the collaborative canvases will be displayed in a free public exhibition at The Hole Gallery, 312 Bowery, showcasing the creative voice of the city.
Qualifications and Skills:
We are looking for volunteers with great people skills to engage participants.
Professional Skills - Photography & Video, Social Media
Number of Volunteers:
140
Notes:
Volunteers will work in groups of 2 or 3.
Time Commitment:
October 3rd 9am -11 am (orientation) and October 17th 10 am - 4pm (event).
Associated Cost:
Public transportation costs to and from studio location will be covered.
Data Management Coordinator
TADA!’s mission is two-fold: to present high-quality musical theater productions performed by talented kids for family audiences; and to provide a safe, creative and nurturing place where kids can harness their inherent energy, build their self-esteem and realize their true potential through the unique collaborative art form that is musical theater. Young people gain confidence and learn commitment, responsibility, communication, and teamwork—skills that are critical to their success in both school and life. TADA! is a place where they can develop their individual talents while being a vital part of a larger family group.
Address: 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001
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Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Cultural, Dance, Music, Theater
Position Description:
TADA! is on the brink of instituting a brand new database management program. Our old database is clunky and antiquated, but still has an immeasurable amount of important information. To help with this, TADA! seeks an eager volunteer to help us improve efficiency, communication, customer service by deleting duplicate entries. It’s not glamorous work, but will streamline the efficiency our new database software.
Purpose:
$3,000 records cleaned
Qualifications and Skills:
Professional Skills - Strategic or Program Planning, Research, Technology
Notes: General computer knowledge, interest in learning database management
Number of Volunteers:
1
Time Commitment:
Duration - 2-4 hours, 6 weeks
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Flexible
Schedule - Flexible
Associated Cost:
N/A
Outreach Coordinator
TADA!’s mission is two-fold: to present high-quality musical theater productions performed by talented kids for family audiences; and to provide a safe, creative and nurturing place where kids can harness their inherent energy, build their self-esteem and realize their true potential through the unique collaborative art form that is musical theater. Young people gain confidence and learn commitment, responsibility, communication, and teamwork—skills that are critical to their success in both school and life. TADA! is a place where they can develop their individual talents while being a vital part of a larger family group.
Address: 15 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education, Cultural, Dance, Music, Theater
Position Description:
TADA! seeks an out-going and enthusiastic individual to help TADA! with a special keepsake of congratulatory messages in honor of our 30th Anniversary.
Purpose:
To raise $10,000 in ad sales as this endeavor will not only help generate much needed revenue through the sale of advertisements but can also help improve TADA!’s relationships throughout our local community and with the owners and customers of like-businesses.
Qualifications and Skills:
Professional Skills - Marketing, Strategic or Program Planning, Research
Notes: Comfort on telephone and with internet research
Number of Volunteers:
1
Time Commitment:
Duration - 2-4 hours, 10-20 weeks
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Flexible
Schedule - Flexible
Associated Cost:
N/A
Family Affair
Founded in 1971, The Bronx Museum of the Arts connects diverse audiences to the urban experience through its permanent collection, exhibitions, and education and public programs. Reflecting the borough’s dynamic communities, the Museum is the crossroad where artists, local residents, national and international visitors meet. In celebration of its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Museum implemented a universal Free Admission policy, supporting its mission to make arts experiences available to all audiences.
Address: 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
Apply Here
Position Description:
Family Affair is a free three-hour Saturday program held approximately five times annually. The program gives Bronx youth aged 5-11 and their parents/guardians an opportunity to strengthen familial bonds through exhibition tours and engaging art-making workshops. Family Affair encourages youths to work collaboratively with their family members, helps demystify the experience of visiting a museum, and provides a fun and enriching opportunity for youth to explore visual art and exhibition themes. Families rotate around five to seven stations lead by Artist Educators and complete art projects tied to larger learning concepts. Activities typically include collage-making, drawing, and also feature interactive theater exercises, encouraging multidisciplinary forms of learning and self-expression.
Approximately 90% of participants are minority families from the Bronx, and about half come from Spanish-speaking households. With Family Affair programs averaging 500 participants per event, program attendance normally reaches capacity, indicating a tremendous need in the local community for free cultural programs for children and their families.
Purpose:
The goal of the project is to provide free arts education resources for families; to create opportunities for families to work together on creative projects; to make the Bronx Museum a welcoming place for the community; to give Museum volunteers, Artist Educators, and Family Affair attendees the opportunity to work together and to interact in an informal and fun environment.
Qualifications and Skills:
No essential skills necessary—just an enjoyment of working with children, an ability to handle crowds with patience, a willingness to pitch in on the setup and clean-up of the art stations, and the ability to speak and understand Spanish a plus.
Number of Volunteers:
12
Time Commitment:
1 Day, 10:30am-5:00pm
Part-Time Resident Technical Director
To empower through fearless and ferocious interactive play.
Apply Here
Position Description:
Playing with Reality (PwR), a New York-based interactive performance company, is seeking a part-time volunteer Resident Technical Director to help run our productions and pioneer state-of-the-art technologies.
Some of the tasks for the Resident TD include (but are not necessarily limited to):
- Helping develop technical innovations for shows (e.g. instant photo filter; instant ambient sound selector)
- Running tech boards and computer systems during shows
- Training company members to assist in tech positions
- Managing technical team during shows
- Creating cue sheets for shows
- Liaising between venues and PwR team about tech specs and issues
- Organizing and manage A/V files, software and hardware
- Coordinating transportation of set and prop pieces
Purpose:
Playing with Reality, formed in February 2011, is an ensemble of performers artistically led by Jeff Wirth, the guy who wrote the book on interactive performance. Literally. Considered a theatrical skydive for audience participants, our form invites volunteers to play the lead role in an improvised dramatic story. Whereas most interactive and immersive performances have a predetermined storyline, we often don’t know what the next moment will be until it actually happens. This makes for new creative challenges when designing and running technical aspects of our shows.
Qualifications and Skills:
While the ideal volunteer has some experience working in theatre, we are more excited about working with someone who picks up new skills quickly and is also ambitiously curious about pushing the envelope in performance and technology. He/she works well with teams while also being comfortable working on his/her own.
Number of Volunteers:
1
Time Commitment:
Indefinitely, 5-10 hours per week
Notes:
PwR is committed to respecting the time of its company members and volunteers. We know other projects and life obligations come up, so we aim to provide a flexible environment. The schedule below is for a typical week, but accommodations can be made when necessary.
Approximately 5-10 hours per week. During non-show weeks, this time is used to help develop new systems or technologies for PwR. During our show weeks, the schedule is as follows:
- Sandbox show (bimonthly; 3rd Saturday of the month, 10:30pm, Long Island City) - one 2-hour tech check at the theatre (during a weekday), one 3-hour rehearsal (Thursday evening), one 4-hour rehearsal/performance (Saturday night)
- Storyworks show (monthly, 2nd Monday of the month, 7:30pm, Manhattan) - one 3-hour rehearsal (Monday evening), one 3-hour performance (Monday evening)
- There will be additional performances throughout the year as determined by the company.
Business Analyst
The National Guild for Community Arts Education supports and advances lifelong learning opportunities in the arts. We foster the creation and development of community arts education organizations by providing research and information resources, professional development, networking opportunities, funding, and advocacy on behalf of the field.
Address: 520 8th Avenue, Suite 302, New York, NY 10018
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education
Position Description:
In order to identify a CRM/ERP solution for our organization, we envision that the business analysis consultant would assist us in documenting system requirements including a list of CRM/ERP features and functions. Based on this analysis the consultant would provide us with a shortlist of candidate systems, ultimately leading to a Request for Proposal to be issued to chosen product vendor/implementation partner.
We are seeking an IT professional with experience working with educational and/or arts non-profit which provide membership and large-scale programming. The consultant should understand the current systems engineering landscape and have the ability to conduct cost/benefit analysis and facilitate an Information Technology strategic plan.
Purpose:
The National Guild supports and advances access to lifelong learning opportunities in the arts. The delivery of the Guild’s programs and services relies on data management to support our activities. We are seeking to replace our current SQL/Access database with a new solution which will meet current information technology requirements, integrates with our web-based offerings and anticipates future data management requirements based on the organization’s strategic plan.
Qualifications and Skills:
See position description for details.
Professional Skills - Technology
Number of Volunteers:
1+
Time Commitment:
Duration - 275 Hours
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Flexible
Schedule - Flexible
Associated Cost:
TBD
Student Exhibition Production
ProjectArt is an award winning NYC based arts education nonprofit, providing free after school visual arts classes in public libraries across the city.
Address: 601 West 26th Street, Suite 325. New York, NY 10001
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education
Position Description:
Volunteers will meet ProjectArt staff/teacher at student exhibition location (either library or gallery) 2-3 hours before exhibition opening. Under the direction of staff, volunteers will hang student work and name labels. Volunteers will then help prepare the space, which could include setting up tables and chairs and putting out food. At the end of the event, if at a gallery, volunteers will help take down pieces to be returned to the students. No previous experience or specific skills are necessary, just enthusiasm!
Purpose:
At ProjectArt, we believe that when a child creates something beautiful it should be celebrated! This opportunity will allow volunteers to help ProjectArt's small team organize and run a student exhibition at a renowned Chelsea Gallery from start to finish, exposing our students to the world of art business, and the art world to the next generation of young creatives.
Qualifications and Skills:
None
Number of Volunteers:
3-5
Time Commitment:
Duration - 1 afternoon or evening
Days of Week - Weekdays, Weekends
Times of Day - Afternoons, Evenings
Schedule - Flexible
Associated Cost:
None
Event Production
ProjectArt is an award winning NYC based arts education nonprofit, providing free after school visual arts classes in public libraries across the city.
Address: 601 West 26th Street, Suite 325. New York, NY 10001
Apply Here
Arts Discipline:
Arts Education
Position Description:
Volunteers are essential to every stage of hosting events, from planning and promoting, to helping out on the ground to greet guests, oversee refreshments, and help build connections at the event itself. ProjectArt hosts a variety of events throughout the year including fundraising and cultivation parties, kids workshops, and awareness/outreach events. Individuals interested in sharing their event planning skills, or venue and vendor connections are always appreciated, but just as important are enthusiastic individuals interested in helping grow organizational support and raise awareness about the cause.
Purpose:
Events volunteers will help ProjectArt both maintain and expand the support networks that make our large impact possible - despite our small staff size! Helping with events is a great chance for volunteers to become better acquainted with the workings of the organization, and help make valuable connections.
Qualifications and Skills:
Event planning experience and social media skills are a plus but not required
Professional Skills - Development/Special Events, Social Media
Number of Volunteers:
3-30
Notes:
The range of events we host and participate in require different numbers of volunteers!
Time Commitment:
Duration - N/A
Days of Week - Flexible
Times of Day - Afternoons, Evenings
Schedule - Flexible
Associated Cost:
None
