BOSTIN NEWS: WHY VOLUNTEER
What do a freelance photographer and filmmaker, the front-of-house manager at a theatre, a touring company general manager, an art gallery visitor assistant supervisor, and a museum outreach manager all have in common?
Well, apart from the fact they are all making a living in the arts, culture, and heritage that they love here in the Black Country, they ALL began their career journeys by volunteering.
People often ask, ‘What’s the point of volunteering? What can it do for me? The list of job roles above gives you some idea of how it can kick-start careers, but how can it do that exactly?
It gives you the chance to learn new skills, find out what you are good at, and discover what you love, (it can help you discover what you DON’T like doing too. Always useful before you commit to a long-term career choice).
Fresh out of education? It will jazz up your CV and make it stand out from the crowd.
If you’ve had a career break it can get you back in touch with what’s going on in the creative sector you want to work in, informing you about new skills you need to develop.
It helps you network. The next big opportunity might be found after a friendly chat with someone you would never have met going down a more conventional route. It’s surprising who you meet volunteering.
It gives you a chance to share the skills you already have, but that you might not get to use in your day-to-day life or current job.
It’s not just about careers either, it can lead to some great friendships and it’s fun (mostly!)
Of course, it’s not all ‘wine and roses’, but as someone who began their own creative career through volunteering, I think the positives outweigh the negatives by quite some way.
There are many ways you can volunteer in arts and culture in the Black Country, whether you want to do something regular and long-term or whether you’d prefer a one-off opportunity. Museums, art galleries, theatres, and festivals – all regularly look for volunteers. It might be stewarding an event or helping with digital marketing; perhaps they need a friendly face to welcome visitors or someone who will help catalogue a new collection. The opportunities are varied and come at all times of the year.
Right now, Creative Black Country is helping support volunteering in the creative sector with a pilot project, funded by the Volunteering Futures fund, that continues until March 2024. Already, volunteers have supported this year’s Wolverhampton Literature Festival, gaining experience at WCRFM (Wolverhampton Community Radio), Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Bantock House and Arena Theatre.
The project is also helping Wightwick Manor and the Stourbridge Glass Museum make their volunteering opportunities more accessible to people who are deaf and hard of hearing, making their visitor experiences more accessible too.
Inspired? Check out the Volunteering Futures page on the CBC website, or email fiona@creative blackcountry.co.uk.
Written by Fiona Dye