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By Katie Bratsch 
It's not your average Saturday night in Dullsville. That's right. You have big plans. And by big, I don't mean another evening at the Cinemaplex with a jumbo tub of popcorn under your chin. I mean expansive and full of possibility, as in the ever-growing universe.
Imagine you're all decked out with somewhere to go. And when you arrive, everyone you’d hoped to see is there. It's an affair to behold, with all of the extra little touches in place. You walk in and are immediately greeted by friends, putting you at ease and making you thirsty for the night's excitement to unfold.
But first, there are other people who need your attention. They have questions and need directions, and you are the one who knows just how to help them. Once everything is set, the lights dim and the crowd is sizzling with anticipation. The event begins to the sounds of cheers and applause, and you're tingling inside with pride because some of those accolades are for you. This show couldn't have gone on without you—because you worked for weeks behind the scenes…as a volunteer.
Such are the shining moments for a volunteer in the arts. Opening nights and exhibit unveilings are very rewarding for these groups of dedicated and talented people who work together to bring a project to life. Whether that happens on a stage, in a gallery or outside in a parking lot, you can bet that volunteers have it all covered. From event assistance and production work to teaching and researching, volunteers fill every imaginable post. And, these people are going places with all of the new skills they've learned, self-confidence they've gained and the social and professional connections they've made in their communities. There's definitely more to volunteering than meets the eye.
On the Inside
Ellen Stanley volunteered her way right into her dream job. She's the publicist for folk/roots music label Red House Records and is also the volunteer host for her own radio show, WomenFolk, at KFAI community radio.
Ever since she was a girl, Stanley's had a fierce spirit for music. She plays several instruments, including a treasured banjo, and she promoted the heck out of everything folk and bluegrass during college. When she moved to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in 2002, she began making connections through volunteering. She started by helping out at KFAI organizing its music library, and soon she was also volunteering at station events. She met her predecessor for the WomenFolk gig at one of those events; was invited into the studio for a show and the rest is sweet history.
Stanley says, "I love being a part of the broader KFAI community. Everyone there is so passionate. Even though they’re not getting paid, most DJs spend hours preparing for their shows and making connections in the community. They’re all experts and geeks in whatever their interest is, whether it is Scandinavian accordion music or forgotten pop tunes from the ’80s. It's exciting to have that kind of energy around.”
Why It Works
Volunteering for an arts organization, like a theater or even an art crawl, could be as rewarding for you as it is for the people you help out. Sure you'll collect good karma, but you'll also experience new things and probably have a whole lot of fun while you're at it. And that's on top of all the usual great perks of being a volunteer, such as free tickets to events and discounts on products. Plus, who knows what all of that creative energy might do for you. Maybe you'll pick up your own art project, branch out in your career and broaden your social horizons.
Unlike your daily grind, volunteering gives you the freedom to explore new talents or exercise old ones, without the pressure of a paycheck keeping you tied to one thing. While many on-the-clock jobs are heavy on repetitive tasks, as a volunteer you can develop a wide range of skills that could increase your career options. Plus, chances are good that you'll make a few new friends along the way and have a deeper sense of belonging to something important in the wide world.
That's exactly the rich mix of reasons that inspired Jen Kollar to become a volunteer. An academic advisor at a Philadelphia university, Kollar also regularly nurtures her love for the arts through volunteering. “Before I went back to graduate school, my career was in the arts. I volunteered partly out of interest, to supplement some research interests, and to get other aspects of experience that my former career didn’t provide,” she explains.
Kollar volunteered at Slought Foundation, a then newly launched contemporary art organization. She worked directly with the executive director and curator to get things up and running, and she edited two books for publication. "I learned a lot of new skills and had plenty of creative input,” says Kollar, “as opposed to the primarily arts administrative work I'd done in the past. It was satisfying to see a long-term endeavor culminate into a successful project and to see my name in print with it. The writing and editing experiences were valuable, and I met a ton of really great people whom I've stayed in contact with professionally and personally.”
Some of the benefits from your volunteer with will be immediately satisfying, as in all of the interesting events and people. However, there also tends to be a longer-term ripple effect that happens from dipping your toes into new experiences.
Good Karma
Besides the kudos you'll earn from being a volunteer, you may find karma returning to you in surprising and fortunate ways, like it did for Sayer Frey, a film maker, teacher and arts volunteer. She tells this story: “I was on a secluded country road up north, on my way to a residency at a school. I was going 80 miles an hour trying to get there on time, so I wouldn't seem like one of those ‘late, spacey artist’ types.
“Well, of course, a state trooper stopped me and asked what I was doing in the area. I said I was a guest artist/teacher and was late for my first class. I saw him scan my colorful post-it notes, my directions, my map, my coffee, the phone numbers of the school...and he said to me, ‘what time do you have to be there?’ I said in 10 minutes. He said, ‘no problem; you can go the speed limit and still make it. You're just outside of town now. But, slow down.’ Then he smiled and walked away. No ticket!”
Frey arrived right on time for her class of energetic 6th graders. They proceeded to work together for two weeks on a short film project. Frey says these teaching experiences inspire her film-making more than anything else. “When I saw the kids’ minds open up to possibility, I felt effective and able to help the world out in a small way,” Frey enthused. “Inspiration is abundant around kids anyway, but when they have an ‘ah hah’ moment right in front of me, it really fuels me as an artist. It's tangible energy that brushes over me, not unlike what I imagine religious people feel during rituals, making them feel cleansed and able to start anew. From my experience, I know it's hard to stay true to your inner-artist. However, by reinforcing the kids’ confidence and teaching them how to always take care of their sacred, artistic selves, I feel hopeful about my own work and have a better outlook on just about everything else in my life.”
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