Fabrica

Introduction

Volunteers are essential to Fabrica’s ability to operate as a Gallery. They comprise the majority of the front of house staff, significantly enhancing the visitor experience. Volunteers also undertake other work ‘behind the scenes’ which enhance the organisation’s ability to deliver its programme.

Fabrica also appreciates that volunteers bring additional skills, interests and experience to their work with us which may feed into the education programme or be useful for marketing events and activities.

For a greater insight into life as a volunteer at Fabrica, please visit the Fabrica Volunteer Blog. This is a collaborative project managed by the volunteers. It is a space for volunteers to share their experience and their diverse range of interests.

Volunteers support Fabrica by working as:

• information assistants in the gallery.
• technical assistants during exhibition changeovers.
• administration assistants in the offices.
• research assistants to freelance or in-house project managers.
• assistants in the Artist Resource

Working as a Gallery Volunteer develops skills and knowledge in the following areas:

Working directly with the public
Helping with general and specific enquiries from visitors, working to create a welcoming atmosphere in the gallery, communicating thoughts and knowledge about the exhibition, artist and the venue to visitors.

Contemporary arts practice
Developing a greater understanding of contemporary art and artists. Networking/working with artists and arts professionals, gallery visits, professional development through the Artist Resource, understanding more about the making of exhibitions and the gallery’s education programme.

Exhibition installation
Working with artists, technicians and Fabrica staff during exhibition changeovers. Understanding more about managing the exhibition installation process.
Research skills
Internet and book research for exhibition interpretation, informing the development of gallery education projects.

General administration
Mailouts, leaflet distribution, photocopying and other office duties, updating press contacts and databases and gallery sales.

Volunteer Briefing for The Forty Part Motet

The Artist Resource Volunteer Programme develops learning in the following areas:

• Filing, Archiving and Database skills
• Research skills (on site and through the Internet)
• Arts Administration
• IT skills (word processing, publishing and database software)
• Networking with artists, arts organisations and arts professionals
• Professional development
• Understanding the business of the arts
• Understanding of contemporary art and artists

If you are interested in becoming a gallery volunteer, in the first instance you should-

Download an application form here Word document or PDF
Download FAQs on volunteering

Please note that Front of House volunteers are recruited at fixed points during the year and depending on the length of the waiting list and the time of year, it may be several weeks before you are contacted.

If you have any further questions please contact Exhibition Space and Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Schneider at lauren.schneider@fabrica.org.uk or call 01273 778646

If you are interested in becoming an Artist Resource volunteer please contact Caitlin Heffernan at caitlin.heffernan@fabrica.org.uk or call 01273 778646.