VOLUNTEER ROLES
Ambassador
Olympic Sculpture Park
Greet and welcome visitors; answer questions and provide accurate information about the Olympic Sculpture Park facilities, artwork, and exhibitions, with a special focus on the
Neukom Vivarium. Prospective volunteers should enjoy interacting with the public. Training required, provided by SAM. Weekly or twice-per-month shifts, weekends, 2–3 hours. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is six months.
COAT CHECK
Seattle Art Museum
Ensure that all visitors have a positive and enjoyable experience. Greet and welcome guests, check coats and parcels, and assist museum visitors. Requires a warm, professional public presence and customer service orientation; ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff, volunteers, and visitors; ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 20 pounds. Training provided. Minimum two shifts per month: Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–1:30 pm or 1:30–5 pm. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is six months.
EVENTS
All three museum locations
Support family programs, after-hours programs, members' previews, and other special events. Greet guests, usher, attend Coat Check, and assist with art-making activities. Requires excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff, volunteers, and visitors. Physical requirements may include standing for extended periods, and lifting up to 20 pounds. Requires six shifts per year; evenings and weekends. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is six months.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
All three museum locations
Family Programs volunteers serve to support visiting families/groups with children 2-12 years at drop-in art-making workshops. Supporting teaching artists and Museum Educators, Family Programs volunteers assist with facilitating meaningful, hands-on art lessons for our youngest visitors in support of SAM’s mission. Physical requirements may include kneeling, stooping, and standing for extended periods. Minimum time commitment includes two 2.5 to 3.5 hours-long shifts per month for one year, along with three SAMVA SpcExh training sessions per year. Shifts are limited to 9:30 am – 12:30 pm or 12:30 – 3 pm on assigned days.
INFORMATION DESK
Seattle Art Museum | Olympic Sculpture Park
Welcome visitors at the Information Desk during selected hours. Learn to access information desk materials and give accurate information about all aspects of the museum to visitors. Requires excellent communication skills, a sincere enjoyment of people, and the ability to deal positively with all visitors. Knowledge of Seattle and tourist attractions is helpful. Requires two three-and-a-half-hour shifts per month on a regular schedule. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is one year.
LIBRARIES
Seattle Art Museum | Seattle Asian Art Museum
Assist library staff with a variety of projects including preparing catalogued materials, re-shelving, assisting patrons, and working on research or filing projects. Applicants must have superb computer skills, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work with others in a professional manner. Most library volunteer positions require previous experience working in libraries or educational equivalent. Requires two shifts per month. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is one year.
PARK STEWARD
Olympic Sculpture Park
Volunteer outdoors assisting Olympic Sculpture Park staff with landscape maintenance projects, weeding, invasive plant removal, etc. Prospective volunteers should enjoy being outside and interacting with the public. Training required, provided by SAM. Requires two three-hour shifts per month, March-October. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is six months.
SAMBASSADOR
Seattle Art Museum
Greet and welcome visitors in the museum galleries, answer questions, provide directions, engage in conversations about art and exhibitions, all while in the SAM Collections & Installations Galleries. Requires a warm, professional public presence and customer service orientation, ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff, volunteers, and visitors, and the ability to stand/walk for three hours. Required training provided by SAM. Requires two three-and-a-half hour shifts per month on regular schedule. Minimum commitment for on-boarding is one year.
STAFF ASSISTANT
Seattle Art Museum | Seattle Asian Art Museum | Virtual
Assist museum staff with a wide range of administrative tasks. Volunteer staff assistant roles are designed to support a project-based assignments, behind-the-scenes. Shift requirements vary by assignment and are arranged with the host department. Minimum commitment for on-boarding varies by assignment.