We Love Our Volunteers! Join The Fun!
Looking to meet new people, learn about the visual arts, and make a difference in our creative community? Volunteer at ArtCenter Manatee in downtown Bradenton! There are many opportunities to apply your talents. Whether you want to come every week or help with a special event; answer the phones and assist customers, assist in a children’s class, apply your handyman skills, assist the librarian, hang a show, greet guests at an opening reception, serve on a special events committee… there are a number of positions which are sure to take advantage of your special skills and experiences, call us today at 941-746-2862 or fill out the volunteer form below!
Front Desk
Volunteers help us at the front desk by greeting visitors, answering questions and providing information about our events, classes, programs, and memberships. This role is needed primarily on Mondays, mornings or afternoons.
Special Events
We host several special events including fundraisers, VIP events, the Big Art Blow Out, Used But Useful sale, the Holiday Extravaganza, Terranova Art Show and more. Roles include collecting donations, event planning, booth sitting, event set up and break down, and much more. Whether you are a worker bee or a great planner, there are lots of ways to get involved and help.
Receiving
Members of this committee check entries into all open and member exhibitions; collect payment for entries and inspect work to make sure it is suitable for entry. Receiving will be on select Saturday morning and early afternoons.
Presentation
This committee meets once a month to hang each exhibition at ArtCenter Manatee. It usually meets on a Monday from 9 am to 2 pm. Roles include placement of the artwork, adjusting lighting and hanging labels.
Hospitality
Our opening receptions for exhibitions are usually held monthly on Thursday evenings from approximately 5-7pm. Volunteers help meet and greet our guests, serve hors-d’oeuvres and beverages, and assist the front-desk staff.  This is a great place to start volunteering at ArtCenter Manatee.
Exhibit Greeter
Each year we host a national or international traveling exhibit for which there is an admission fee. Volunteers in this role collect the fee from guests as well as basic demographic information and answer questions about the exhibit. Each shift is 2 ½ to 3 hours long, for an average of five to six weeks during season.
Building and Maintenance
We always need helpers for basic repairs, event set-up and break-down, small projects, etc. Â We also need volunteers to help with our annual cleanup, typically the last two weeks in August. Roles include painting tables, pedestals, and gallery walls and cleaning tables and chairs.
Library
ArtCenter Manatee has a 3,000 volume art library. Our library volunteers check books back in and process all donated books.
Ambassadors
These volunteers are vital when getting marketing materials to our target audience. Maps and locations are provided along with marketing materials to distribute for specific events such as the Big Art Blow Out, Used But Useful and other special events.
KidsCamp
For 10 to 11 weeks each summer, we host an exciting array of KidsArt camps for ages 6-10. Our Summer Camp instructors need and appreciate classroom volunteers who assist with set up, instruction, and special projects. During this time, we look for responsible and hardworking youths, age 14 and up to help out with the summer camp programs. Attending training sessions is mandatory.
We asked our volunteers how they feel about helping out at ArtCenter Manatee:
“I love working with the staff and volunteers on ACM efforts. Love what ACM does for the community” – Lucy L.
“Love meeting like minded people. I like doing anything I can to advance art” – Cali T.
“I am always volunteering for something. This is a home away from home where everyone feels like they belong, young and old” – Jean C.
“I feel involved in an important community asset and I’ve enjoyed everyone I’ve worked with and met in the process” -Ellen G.
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