Click here to download the Volunteer Application, which is the first step to becoming a volunteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts! An orientation meeting with the volunteer coordinator is required, during which you will fill out a background check consent form, which must be processed before all volunteers begin their time here.
Group orientations occur periodically and you will hear from the Volunteer Coordinator once the orientation is scheduled, based on the Center schedule as well as the amount of applications received.
Benefits of volunteering include:
Complimentary tickets to many performances and workshops
Complimentary Museum admission
15% off Museum Store purchases
Invitation to annual holiday party
Research library available for personal research
Learn about puppetry from tours, workshops and lectures
Other incentives such as Appreciation Parties / Events based on number
of hours volunteered and at discretion of volunteer coordinator.
Projects include:
Greeting visitors as they arrive
Giving tours of the Museum
Selling concessions at evening performances
Assisting with puppet making during Patron Parties
Entering library and collections information into database
Volunteers will serve the Center for Puppetry Arts by greeting patrons,
offering information about the museum exhibits and occasionally conducting
tours through our exhibits. They also will greet visitors, show them where
to go, and answer questions about the Center.
Hours:
Saturdays and Sundays, 3-hour shifts, set at a monthly schedule with Volunteer
Coordinator.
Qualifications/Attributes
-Works well with children and adults
-Outgoing personality
-Problem solving skills
Create-A-Puppet Workshops
Volunteers will work in the Education Department, assisting with material
preparation as well as helping the instructors with the students and patrons
in the workshops.
Hours:
Tuesday – Friday, 9:30am-5pm
Qualifications/Attributes
-Works well with children
-Enjoys crafts
Training
Work with classroom instructor to learn how the workshops are done and
how to help patrons build the puppet.
Library
Volunteers will catalog books in the library and enter them into a database.
The current library project involves reorganizing the books by subject.
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 9:30am-5:00pm
Qualifications/Attributes
Organized
Detail-oriented
Good with data entry and cataloging
Training
1 session to learn how to catalog the library. Further training if needed.
Evening Events
Volunteers will work an evening event, either our quarterly Patron Parties
or evening events in our New Direction Series (adult shows). Jobs vary
for evening performances and may include the following: greeting people
as they arrive, assisting with house managing during the show, serving
drinks, helping with the Create-A-Puppet workshop, and set-up/clean-up
before and after the event.
Hours:
Patron Parties: 6:00-8:00pm
NDS Shows: various nights and Sunday evenings
Qualifications/Attributes
-Works well with adults
-Friendly
-Outgoing
-Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Birthday Parties
Volunteers will help the Birthday Party Assistant with making sure that
the birthday party groups know where they are going, that everything is
set-up for them, and that the whole event runs smoothly.
Hours:
Weekends - times vary
Qualifications/Attributes
-Works well with children and adults
-Organization and event coordinating skills
-Likes to have fun
Training
Shadow 2 birthday parties with Birthday Party Assistant.
Office Work/Data Entry
Volunteers will assist with mailings and data entry using a program called
PastPerfect, as well as other office jobs around the Center.
