Volunteer

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum depends on its volunteers to staff the museum during its opening hours, on weekdays as well as on weekends.

Most volunteers work as hosts in the museum, meeting & greeting visitors, taking admissions, and giving out basic information about the collection and the sculptor Charles Umlauf. We would not be able to keep the museum's doors open without volunteer hosts. And, more important: as a host you are "the face" of the museum! All shifts run about 4 hours.

Volunteer docents give group tours of the museum & garden, lead clay & other hands-on workshops, help out with different outreach programs, and other educational programs offered by the museum.

Most docents take groups (of different ages and interests) on a tour through the museum and sculpture garden and inform them about the sculptor Charles Umlauf and his works. The docent talks about shapes, forms, materials, techniques and themes used by the artist, and will add some (personal) stories about the sculptor & his works. Tours are booked in advance, upon request, for students (Elementary thru College), adults (special interest groups like garden or museum clubs or "regular" adult groups), special needs groups, like visually impaired visitors, and lots of others. You can express a preference for a certain group, or get to be a "pro" and "do them all"!

Volunteers, hosts as well as docents should be outgoing, interested in art and in sculpture in particular, enjoy talking to, and educating people. No previous experience or art degrees are necessary. Training, usually on a one-on-one basis, will be provided by the museum's education coordinator. New recruits are also required to work along with well-trained, more experienced museum volunteers to learn the ropes of the job.

Other volunteers work outdoors in the xeriscape garden, removing twigs and branches, weeding and planting, to make sure the garden looks its best.

Benefits of volunteering for the USG&M learning new skills, meeting people, the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon & Auction in February, invitations to exhibition openings and other special activities. For every hour that volunteers work they earn one "Volunteer Umlauf Dollar" at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon & Auction they are invited to bid on art books, gift certificates, tickets and other prizes with their volunteer dollars. Volunteers also receive a monthly newsletter, the Volunteer View (826 KB download). All volunteers are considered museum members.