Volunteering

Canwood Gallery is in an area of outstanding national beauty and compliments itself so well with outdoor sculpture, and we’d like to further explore links between art, the countryside and wellbeing. Although Hereford City has an art college there is no permanent large scale contemporary art gallery or sculpture park. Our goal is to fulfil the need for access to leading contemporary art for free so that all members of the community have the chance to visit and enjoy without traveling out of the county for miles.  Local artists also get the chance to showcase fantastic large-scale work that isn’t possible to do inside the county. 

As a volunteer at Canwood Gallery we need your support in giving a great welcome to our visitors in a number of departments across the gallery.   You will have a broad range of tasks from talking to visitors to help them find their way around, fundraising, sharing stories of our artists and artwork and supporting busy events.  With an eye for detail, you will be willing to help Canwood look at its best. This is a roaming and varied role whereby you will spend time in different areas of the place depending on where the busy areas/ times are. 

Area where volunteers can support

• Events
• Visitor welcome
• Tours
• Café
• Car park
• Gallery guide

What’s in it for you?

• Being part of a social and energetic team
• Helping people get the best from their visit
• Sharing your skills and knowledge and gaining new ones
• Getting to work and gain experience supporting a wide range of departments
• Volunteer discount on artwork
• Travel reimbursement (0.25p per mile)
• Preview invites

What’s involved?

You will be responsible for helping visitors to have the best experience at every step. You’ll be supporting all departments to help Canwood Gallery run a little smoother. You can share your inspiration for the arts by giving a warm welcome, chat about our programme of sculpture and artwork, our need for donations and fundraising to support our free to entry ethos. 

• You will have the opportunity to work with the General Manager to ensure that the Gallery runs smoothly.
• Providing a warm, friendly welcome to all visitors arriving at Canwood Gallery, or indeed wherever you happen to be on site.
• Advising and answering visitors’ questions about facilities, daily or special events.
• Have fundraising conversations about our free to enter ethos and the support we need in bringing new artwork and artists to Canwood.  Help us generate income for future artworks and exhibitions by promoting the Friends of Canwood scheme.

• Assist in the café   
• Being proud of the visitor experience you’ll provide by having a keen eye for presentation; car park litter picking when you’re on duty and reacting to areas that might be untidy or signs that need a clean.
• Being an ambassador of Canwood Gallery by delivering outstanding customer service and creating exceptional visitor experiences on the day.   
• There might occasionally be some other activities that are of interest to you, that we could use your help with.
• You’ll receive training and induction to support your volunteer experience with us. 

The role will suit people who…

• Have a gift for persuasion.
• Are cheerful and passionate about art and Canwood Gallery.
• Loves meeting new people.
• Weekend and events support is hugely valuable to us too as that’s when we’re busiest.

Canwood Gallery

Canwood Gallery is a sustainable, self-financing contemporary visual arts gallery and sculpture park that is free-for-entry. It is Herefordshire’s leading contemporary gallery sourcing exhibitions of national and international artists that would not be available elsewhere in the county for enjoyment and stimulation of local people. It will also support the growth of local artists. It will be a jewel in Herefordshire’s crown attracting visitors to the county with its rolling series of exciting exhibitions.

By getting involved you could:

• Use your passion for art to communicate our cause and create personalised experiences for our visitors.
• Help us meet our income targets, so we can continue to host exhibitions and artwork.
• Join an enthusiastic and varied team and make some new friends.
• Enjoy a role that’s multifaceted and get an understanding of the contributions of different areas of the property.
• Enjoy being outside and feel the wind in your hair when you’re out and about on site as well as being the first to see our new exhibitions when they arrive at the Gallery.
• See Canwood from a whole new perspective.

It’s about working safely:

• Being aware of any security risks, and raising any concerns you have with staff
• You are important in making sure things run as smoothly and safely as possible – this includes getting to know health and safety and evacuation procedures

Extra Information

• We’ll help you get to know Canwood, how you will work with the rest of the team with induction and training.
• We provide equipment to help you do this role well and safely.
• We’ll also cover agreed costs of your travel between home and Canwood (within 40 miles for a round trip).
• Your Volunteer Manager will be Hannah Dale, General Manager, however you may be liaising with other managers or trustees when on duty.   

Health & Safety

You have a general duty of care during your time with Canwood Gallery. We ask that you follow instructions from the managers you work with and report any repairs that may be required or the potential for accidents.

Accidents

If a visitor has an accident, make sure they are safe and then call for assistance.

Only administer First Aid if you have been trained to do so and have a valid certificate.

Fire Alarm

When the fire alarm sounds, you need to clear visitors and yourself from the building.

• Stay calm and speak authoritatively.
• Say: This is the fire alarm; we need to leave the building/area now.’ If the rooms are full of visitors, it helps to raise your voice and speak purposefully.
• Close the door behind you and leave. Do not stop to do anything.
• Assemble in the correct location and wait until the All Clear is sounded.

DO NOT: 

• Tackle the fire, unless you have been specifically trained in this.
• Stop to gather belongings
• Take risks

Personal Belongings

The security of your personal belongings is your responsibility. Given there is not often a totally secure space to leave belongings, please bring as little as possible. Your personal possessions (inc. money) are not insured by Canwood Gallery against accidental loss or damage.

Problems

We hope your time with us will be a good one. However, if you should have any kind of grievance, please talk, in the first instance, with your volunteer manager and we will do our best to resolve it. If the problem cannot be resolved, please talk to the appropriate senior manager.

Visitors

The orientation activities will help you know the basics about our exhibitions and the visitor facilities – you need to know whatever the visitor wants to know.

Important: please wear your badge every time you volunteer.

Interested? Contact Us!