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Volunteer

Sandra Achterberg (right) receives the Bernice M. Scott Award during Hats Off to Volunteers at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 2022.

Many of the programs and events at JMKAC would not be possible without the help of Friends of Art, the Arts Center’s dedicated volunteer organization.

There are more than 500 active volunteers who generously contribute over 5,000 hours every year to the Arts Center. Volunteers give tours, assist with arts classes and Preschool, help maintain the gardens, prepare and serve food and beverages at Arts Center events, and assist with numerous other tasks throughout the year. We could not do it without our dedicated Friends of Art volunteers!

Current volunteers, please log in to the Volunteer Information Center on Volgistics to update your contact information, check your schedule, and sign up for shifts. For instructions on how to use this online system, please watch this tutorial.

We could not do it without our dedicated Friends of Art volunteers. Apply here to become a Friends of Art Volunteer today!

Volunteer Opportunities

DOCENTS
The term “docent” is derived from the Latin verb docere, “to teach.” Docent volunteers are dedicated to learning and teaching. They help visitors of all ages to see, understand, and respond to works of art at the Arts Center in meaningful ways. There are two ways in which you can serve as a docent. You can tour visitors through the exhibitions, or you can lead art-making workshops. In either case, the staff will provide you with the information and tools you need to do your part. JMKAC docents touch the lives of over 10,000 visitors each year.

USHERING
Volunteer ushers provide customer service at Arts Center events. This includes taking tickets, distributing event programs, and answering general questions. Volunteer ushers receive free admission to performances but are not guaranteed a seat. Volunteers arrive 45 minutes prior to the performance in most cases. There is then a pre-event meeting. Volunteers may also assist with concessions during intermission.

HOSPITALITY and SPECIAL EVENTS
Hospitality volunteers may prepare or serve food, bartend, greet, or host. They work together with other volunteers to support events such as the Holiday Continental, Midsummer Festival of the Arts, seasonal exhibition celebrations, a wide variety of receptions, and special events.

MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
The Arts Center’s Midsummer Festival of the Arts is held annually on the third weekend in July. More than 100 artists from across the nation sell their wares at this juried art show. The festival is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to serve in a wide range of areas, including food and beverage service, provision of breaks for artists, hands-on workshops, galleries, and general safety assistance.

ADMINISTRATIVE
Administrative volunteers help with general clerical tasks. These include data entry, filing, and sorting. Volunteers may also assist with processing mailings by folding letters, stuffing envelopes, and sorting for distribution. Administrative volunteers are needed on a sporadic basis and contacted as needed.

SOCIAL STUDIO
The Social Studio is located at the front entrance of the Arts Center. It is the interactive, hands-on art-making space for all ages. Volunteers familiarize visitors with ongoing collaborative projects, assist with projects, and help maintain orderliness in the studio. In addition, volunteers provide a welcoming presence for visitors and answer general questions about the Arts Center.

PRESCHOOL
Preschool volunteers assist teachers in the three- and four-year-old preschool classrooms. They support the Arts Center’s unique curriculum that emphasizes critical and creative thinking through regular gallery visits for observation and language building. Hands-on-learning is used to promote literacy, math, science, cultural studies, and self-awareness. Volunteers are needed in August to assist teachers in preparing the classroom for the upcoming year.

GARDENING
Volunteers are needed spring, summer, and fall to help maintain gardens at both the Art Preserve and Arts Center. Volunteers assist with raking, weeding, and general beautification.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering, please complete this brief interest form.

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