Volunteer at the National Veterans Art Museum!

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About NVAM
The National Veterans Art Museum always welcomes new volunteers. Are you interested in learning about how a museum operates on a daily basis? Would you like to broaden your skills as an artist, arts administrator, and/or emerging museum professional? For the remaining winter and spring season of 2020, NVAM is looking for volunteers to assist with day-to-day operations, special events and programs.

NVAM is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and preserving veteran-created artwork inspired by combat and military service. Our collection comprises over 2,5000 artworks collected over the past 35 years. We aim to generate discussion and engage all audiences to think about the meaning and impact of conflict on society, community and individuals. NVAM collects art from all the branches of military, and from artists who have seen war, military conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. The majority of the NVAM collection is contemporary, covering WWII, the Korean War, The Vietnam War through present day. Our permanent collection is on display on a rotating basis in Chicago, and pieces from our collection are regularly on display in special exhibitions around the world.

Volunteer Objective
Assist in a variety of tasks to ensure the smooth run of day-to-day operations, special events and programs.

Description of Duties
Volunteers will primarily serve as museum docents, interacting and engaging museum visitors on the artworks on display.

Volunteers will study the NVAM website, Online Art Collection, and social media outlets in order to learn about current and past exhibits, as well as artwork from NVAM’s permanent collection. Having a strong working knowledge of the artwork in the exhibits and in the collection will allow volunteers to more accurately answer questions for visitors.

Task List
Volunteers will work closely with museum staff in the performance of their tasks. Some of the tasks that volunteers will perform are:

• Admissions (answering phones, greeting visitors, answering questions)
• Social media coordination
• Assist in the set-up and takedown for events and group tours
• Provide tours (following training by staff if approved)
• Data entry
• Basic gallery maintenance

Volunteer Term
Start and end times are flexible. Ideally, we are looking for volunteers to come in at least once a week for at least 3 hours. The National Veterans Art Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm. Volunteers will be responsible for giving their supervisor their availability, as well as updating them on any changes to it. Occasionally, there may be events that take place after operational hours that volunteers may sign up for.

Desired Skills

• Basic computer knowledge
• Excellent communication skills
• Friendly approachable personality
• Enthusiasm to help with various tasks
• Self-starter attitude

Training
Volunteers are required to attend an orientation session and museum tour to be scheduled with museum staff. Volunteers will be directed to a handbook from which volunteers should refer to for daily operations. Additional training on certain tasks will be given depending on the volunteer’s performance or skillset.