Call for Volunteers to help with Paint Out Art Festival
Paint Out is once again calling for volunteers to be a part of its multi-day art festival in Norwich as well as at other one-day Paint Outs around East Anglia. We were so appreciative of the 20+ volunteers that assisted the artists and exhibition visitors in previous years and we’re hoping that students, community, art and event lovers will want to get involved again this year.
Volunteers are needed to help guide members of the public and assist the artists on location, as well as support and staff the exhibition.
The 2018 event takes place from 13-28 October in Norwich, and availability need only be for a day or 2-4hrs within that period. Select the Norwich option or go straight to our availability schedule to fill out the days or times you are available.
Volunteering opportunities exist for morning, afternoon, evening, or full-days. There is often a welcome event, thank you gifts, and a chance to interact with the art and artists. We are also looking for hosts who can put up an artist in Norwich 12-17 Oct, for a small nightly fee.
Volunteer Roles
Artist Assistance
On painting days of the competition, you might be asked to find artists on location, hand out leaflets to members of the public to promote the event and get them to the Private View and Exhibition, get a message to someone, or to staff one of the hubs where the artists come for downtime. Volunteers will need to be mobile for this one, and be good at engaging with the public.
Steward
This year we have a second venue – the Crypt Gallery at Norwich School – our artist hub will be based here for 2 days (15-16th) but it will also be home to a growing exhibition from the workshops that will take place there during the fortnight it is open (15-28th). There will be quieter days when you are just there to be a friendly face at the door and others where you will need to check-in participants to workshops and allow public in to view the exhibition, albeit quietly at those times. During workshop sessions there will be times where the class will leave to go on a walking/drawing tour around the Close. Volunteers will be able to sit at a desk primarily for this one but be ready to answer queries and chat to the public, they may also need to encourage members of the public to venture down the steps into the Crypt, as it is as yet a little-known venue.
Gallery
This will be at the Cathedral Hostry and will involve talking to the public about the project and selling the paintings – with over 8,000 members of the public coming through the gallery space last year – this can be busy. Volunteers will need to be outgoing and prepared to be on your feet for the whole session. An ability to sell would be an advantage. A member of the team will be with you.
Data Entry
A spreadsheet and spelling-literate person to assist with logging-in artwork information into our database. You will be based at Studio 20 for the hours as per schedule to assist a member of our team. Volunteer needs to be calm under pressure and interpret or query artist’s writing correctly into our database. You will liaise with artists as they come in to check that the logging sheets are fully completed for each painting.
Helpers
We also need folk at the beginning and end of the first weekend to help set up/take down racks in Studio 20, to assist with loading paintings Sat 13th lunchtime in and out of the van, and to take the gallery apart at both the Crypt and Hostry at the middle and end of the month.
Add Volunteering to your CV
The Social Media and CV website LinkedIn allows you to add Volunteering Experience to your online curriculum, job and career history, citing the fact that:
“1 in 5 managers hired someone because of their volunteer experience”
Paint Out offers an enjoyable opportunity to assist and observe the dozens of artists and hundreds of artworks being made during the competition.
“We aim to provide easy opportunities for people to gain experience with the arts. It’s a great way to be involved, have a great day out, and learn about the history of the arts in Norfolk.”
Members of the public, who are interested in volunteering and would like further information on how to be involved, you can join the volunteers Facebook group, contact the team at volunteers@paintoutnorwich.org or fill in the form below: