Whilst my sister Rosie was visiting this week we talked about art jobs and opportunities in Newcastle and Glasgow. Although she has done internships at Sorcha Dallas and bits and pieces of voluntary work for Transmission and other places (plus, crucially, a degree in Art History at Glasgow University, which she tailored to contemporary art history – artists such as Matthew Barney etc), it seems that positions which come up now, she is either over qualified for (as places specify volunteers with no prior experience) or else under qualified (where PHD students/graduates are taking on even the unpaid internships for galleries)…
In Newcastle, the situation isn’t quite the same… if you’re a motivated, astute practitioner and want to be involved in the gallery aspects of the art world, there are plenty of opportunities available if you’re prepared to negotiate what you require in terms of experience/skills development, alongside what the institution requires of you as a volunteer…
In the past I’ve volunteered for a number of places in Newcastle and Gateshead including The Mushroom Works, Globe Gallery and Workplace… all of these have taught me different things, but predominantly that, volunteering is a two way exchange. You need to enter into that relationship with a gallery not only knowing what you can give to them, but also being able to trust that they will provide something of equal worth to you. Whether it’s building your confidence, opening up networking opportunities, or providing experience, it’s important to always be mindful of this relationship and make sure it is, as much as possible, an equilibrium.
It’s very easy for places to (sometimes inadvertantly) treat the volunteer as an unpaid, menial serf, but this only does disservice to everyone involved. I’m not saying that, as volunteers, we shouldn’t sweep up the rubbish or scrub the floors, but rather that this should be balanced with activities which help our own development e.g. admin tasks, writing press releases, constructing exhibition furniture etc. And I’ve spoken to a number of volunteers who regarded it as the galleries’ responsibility to provide the opportunities which catered to the volunteers needs/ aspirations, but as a guy once said “naybody has a glass heed”. As in every relationship, communication is the most important part of the gallery/volunteer exchange, and it is the volunteers reponsibility, just as much as it is the galleries, to be clear from the outset about what they want, what they can provide, and what they expect.
