Become a Volunteer

Support the Center for Puppetry Arts with Your Time and Talent
Volunteering at the Center for Puppetry Arts is a way to discover the art of puppetry and help facilitate similar discoveries for our patrons! If you are interested in helping with educational programming, performance house management, and many other fun, puppet-related opportunities, then please consider becoming a volunteer. We welcome individuals 16 years and older from all different backgrounds and skillsets to join our team. We ask that volunteer candidates commit to a significant length of time, whether that be weekly or monthly, and/or be available for special events and periodic needs
How to Apply:
First, complete the volunteer application by clicking the link below. After applying, you will be contacted to schedule a mandatory orientation and background check. This ensures that our volunteers are well trained and our guests are safe. Get started with your application today!
Volunteer Opportunities
Workshops
Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ Volunteer
Volunteers will work in the Education Department, assisting with material preparation as well as helping the instructors with the students and patrons in the educational puppet workshops.
Responsibilities:
- “Stack” and cut pieces for puppet kits
- Make to-go puppet workshop kits
- Assist families in assembling puppets in daily workshops
- Help instructors keep education rooms clean
- Assist with other educational duties as decided by education staff
Qualifications/Expectations
- Works well with children
- Enjoys arts and crafts
Training:
- Volunteer orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator
- Work with classroom instructor to learn educational duties and protocol
Events
Special Event Attendant
Volunteers will assist with special events, generally held in the evening. These events include three patron parties a year, weddings, evening performances of our Adult/Teen Series and our film series. Jobs vary for the special events but may include the following: greeting patrons as they arrive, assisting with house management of the shows, serving drinks, working as a Create-A-Puppet volunteer and the set-up/clean-up before and after the event.
Responsibilities:
- Greeting patrons.
- Assisting with house management.
- Serving drink and assisting with concessions (must be over 21 years of age.)
- Assist patrons in the Create-a-Puppet workshop
- Set-up and clean-up for the event
Qualifications/Expectations
- Works well with adults
- Friendly
- Outgoing
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Training:
- Volunteer orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator
Admin
Administrative Volunteer
Volunteers will assist with office jobs around the Center. This is an essential volunteer position as they can assist in every part of the Center including, development, marketing, production and the museum with administrative tasks.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with mailings
- Data entry using Excel and PastPerfect
- Various administrative duties.
Qualifications/Expectations
- Organized
- Detail-oriented
- Knowledge of computer programs such as Word and Excel
Training:
- Volunteer orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator
House Management
House Management Volunteer
To provide excellent customer service by welcoming patrons into the theaters, passing out programs and reviewing tickets.
Responsibilities:
- Distribute programs
- Greet patrons entering the theater
- Tear show tickets
- Direct patrons to the correct theater
- Lead patrons to their seats
- Help House Managers clean up the theater
Qualifications/Expectations
- Good with children and adults
- Friendly
- Ability to stand/use stairs for 30-minute increments
Training:
- Volunteer orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator
- Additional training session with a House Manager, scheduled through the Volunteer Coordinator. Must have this training before the volunteer is available for this position.
Docent
Museum Docent – Training courses required
To provide excellent customer service to visitors inside the museum exhibits by answering patron questions, offering information about the museum exhibits, conducting tours through our permanent exhibits, assist with traffic flow and coordinate the flow of school groups as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Greet each visitor with a smile.
- Direct patrons to the appropriate theater, workshop or museum exhibition
- Offer information about the museum exhibits.
- Conduct tours through our permanent exhibit
- Answer patron questions regarding show times, hours, and facilities
- Assist with traffic flow
- Coordinate the flow of school groups
- Fold and stuff show programs.
- Assist with keeping exhibits neat and clean
- Comfortable puppeteering is a plus but not required
Qualifications/Expectations
- Works well with children and adults
- Outgoing personality
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to memorize tour material
- Detail Oriented
Training:
- Training sessions with Museum Education Manager or Volunteer Coordinator, including a follow-along tour guided by one of the museum staff. Training dates scheduled according to interest or individual sessions set up through Volunteer Coordinator.
Storytime
Museum Storytime
Volunteers will assist our youngest patrons explore the art of puppetry with toddler appropriate books/songs, activities, and craft. The volunteer will oversee the craft area and help the toddler’s caregiver put together the monthly craft. The volunteer may also help to “caboose” the end of the toddler tour to make sure the group stays together and assist with the toddler tour activities.
Responsibilities:
- Greet each visitor with a smile.
- Help with set-up, clean-up, & craft
- Help with crown control & flow of activities
Qualifications/Expectations
- Works well with children and adults
- Outgoing personality
- Comfortable with public speaking
- Enjoys storytime, singing, & dancing
- Comfortable helping others with crafts
- Crowd management
Qualifications/Expectations
- Works well with children and adults
- Outgoing personality
- Comfortable with public speaking
- Enjoys storytime, singing, & dancing
- Comfortable helping others with crafts
- Crowd management
Training:
- Volunteer orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator
- Volunteer will observe the first storytime and help with set-up, clean-up, and craft.

Benefits of Volunteering
-Support an active arts organization, directly benefiting children in Title 1 schools and Atlanta area children
-Opportunity to make new friends and meet people with shared interests
-Develop new skills and experience new outlooks
-Invitation to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party and Staff Holiday Party
-Complimentary performance tickets
-Free Museum admission
-10% off in the Museum Shop
-Ability to attend exclusive workshops and tours about puppetry
-All of the above, plus special invitations to Patron Parties
-Ability to be Volunteer of the Year
-Tickets to our annual String Fling Gala

Volunteer of the Year
The Center for Puppetry Arts would also like to thank the 2019 Volunteers of the Year, Kathie McFadden for her outstanding service.
Kathie has been a volunteer since 2017 and has contributed nearly 200 hours of service since. She is always ready and willing to help wherever needed, with professionalism, positivity, and exceptional attention to detail.