Hello Blair!

Volunteering is one realm I can be a little more definite about . . .
though every museum defines and handles volunteers differently.

> I am interested in the details about how to go about volunteering
> in museums.

There are two main questions you must answer for yourself first:

1) In what type of museum are you interested?

        FIRST, Find museums of that type within an acceptable
        radius.  Is this 5 miles?  10 miles?  25?  50?

        [Much depends upon where you live, as New York City
        has a higher concentration and larger variety of
        museums than say, Omaha, Nebraska where I live.]

        THEN, call them and/or look at their web site for further
        information about what opportunities they have currently,
        and what special (i.e., customized for you) projects with
        which they might need assistance.

2) What is your goal in volunteering?
        Do you want to learn a new skill or practice an old skill?
        Do you want to work with the public?  What age range(s)?
        Do you want to work with art/artifacts?  Do you already
                have skills?
        Do you work better alone or with others?

> Do museums generally require a minimum hour commitment?

Some museums do, some don't.  Some museums have specific requirements
for certain volunteer opportunities, whereas other opportunities offer
greater flexibility.  To be a docent will, likely, require a commitment
of several hours each week.  To help with office work is likely to be a
"call when you have an hour or two" option.

> Do you have to have previous experience?

Undoubtedly, you need previous experience for some volunteering.  But
much volunteer work in museums - greeting the public, stuffing
envelopes, etc. - does not require previous experience.

> What if you work M-F 8-5?

Ask the museum if they have weekend volunteer opportunities.  At Joslyn,
we have four (sometimes five, six or seven) weekend options . . .

> Are you able to choose your volunteer activity?

Depending upon the museum.  Some museums have highly-organized volunteer
opportunities; other museums have a less formal structure.

> I am guessing that gaining worthwhile volunteer
> experience may be almost as difficult as landing a job!

A "worthwhile" volunteer experience?  The only person who should be
judging worthiness of volunteer experience is you, the volunteer!

HINT: If you want to have greater responsibility in volunteering - to do
collections, curatorial, educational work - approach a really small
museum.  My best experiences were at museums with fewer than five paid
(full or part-time) staff.  I helped mount exhibitions, write condition
reports, repair lighting, build backdrops, produce promotional and
educational materials, etc.

The larger the museum, the more professionals are there.  Helping them
is generally reserved for experienced volunteers and student interns
(undergraduate or graduate).

Please feel free to e-mail with further questions . . .

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone)   342-2376 (fax)

"You can’t lock up art in a vault and keep it frozen for posterity. Then
the artist is betrayed, history is betrayed."
(Walter Persegati)

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