Art Fund volunteer Jane Crease responds with incredulity to reports that the charity's financial support for its volunteer network can no longer be justified.
The charity says the network was not helping it achieve the “best possible return” on investment, and future plans will instead focus on training and development for museum professionals.
The rate of volunteering at clubs and organisations has not recovered to the levels last seen in 2013/14, and the percentage of people giving to charity has also fallen over the same period.
Volunteering in the arts should be an enriching experience, says Cathryn Peach. She shares five tips for designing programmes that motivate, empower and inspire volunteers.
New technology and a growing interest from young people has led to a boom in ‘micro-volunteering’ in the arts. Claire Sully explains how it’s helping some organisations engage audiences and save money.
Arts organisations in Wales are becoming more imaginative with the types of volunteer opportunities they offer, from online volunteering to time-banking schemes, reveals Gareth Coles.
For an amateur theatre company to be financially stable and well supported it needs the right volunteers in key roles, as well as an awareness of when to call in the experts, says Clare Simpson.
The first Mossley Light Festival may have transformed the northern town for just one night, but the change in the community will be much more long term. Leon Patel explains how it empowered local people.
Claire Antrobus reveals how volunteers, trustees and staff at Ripon Museum Trust have developed their leadership and coaching skills, resulting in greater organisational resilience, better internal communication and clearer roles.
Providing opportunities to volunteer online is helping Birmingham’s museums to engage with more and more people. Rebecca Fletcher explains how they do it.
How can arts companies, low on budget and short on time, refuse the offer of free labour? Cathryn Peach tells how her company welcomes volunteers but tries to give them something back.
London Bubble offers a wide variety of volunteering opportunities, but it’s not just about one-off opportunities, explains Lucy Bradshaw – they’re in it for the long haul.
A recent visual arts and museums project offered volunteers training to enable them to talk more knowledgably and confidently to visitors, says Carolyn Black.
With such a large number of volunteers working on the Manchester Day celebrations year after year, Liz Pugh gives some advice on how to build a team of loyal volunteers.
Community members and arts and heritage organisations can all benefit from volunteering if some basic principles are followed. Abigail Kay explains what good practice looks like.
