Volunteer
YBCA welcomes the support of volunteers with a wide range of interests and skills who want to give back to their community by supporting the Bay Area’s premier venue for contemporary art. Volunteers are active participants in the life of YBCA and work closely with staff and curators in a variety of capacities. Read on and let us know if you think you can give us a hand by emailing us!
Volunteer Positions:
Ushers
Membership and Subscription Sales
Gallery
Daytime Office
Internships
Volunteer Ushers
Be a part of a vibrant community of performing arts lovers and see great shows! Ushers are recruited for performances in both Novellus Theater and Forum.
Requirements:
- Work one show a month and two during the holiday season. Show shifts are approximately four hours.
- Be outgoing and enthusiastic about the performing arts
- Be able to work on your feet; duties include stuffing programs, tearing tickets, distributing programs and showing patrons to their seats
Benefits:
- Opportunity to support one of the nation’s leading contemporary art centers
- Interact and network with other performance enthusiasts
- Opportunity to see the performances you work; seating subject to availability
- For more info call 415.978.2710 x 200
Membership Volunteers
YBCA is seeking enthusiastic arts lovers to actively promote YBCA's Membership program and serve as an overall YBCA Ambassador. Member Volunteers perform a variety of tasks related to membership promotion and sales at events, including Opening Night Parties for exhibitions, performances, and Big Idea Night. Duties include greeting patrons at entry or in line, answering questions regarding YBCA's Membership and curatorial programs, and encouraging patrons to purchase new or renew existing memberships onsite. Meet great people and see inspiring contemporary art!
Requirements:
- Be available for 1–2 training sessions per season
- Work a minimum of five shifts per season
- Be outgoing and enthusiastic about YBCA programming, including the ability and desire to educate yourself on YBCA artists and programs
Benefits:
- Opportunity to support one of the nation's leading contemporary art centers
- Valuable experience in customer service and fundraising
- Receive a complimentary Basic Membership
- Attend the performances you work (Seating subject to availability)
Gallery Volunteers
Share your passion for contemporary art as a YBCA Gallery Volunteer. Get in-depth training from our curators on our cutting edge exhibitions and sign up for a 3-hour shift once a week. It's as easy as that.
Requirements:
- Interest in and knowledge of contemporary visual art
- Outgoing and enthusiastic about YBCA exhibitions programs
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
- Duties include working the Opening Night Party, manning the YBCA Info Desk, being on hand in the galleries to answer visitor questions, leading small impromptu gallery tours
- 4-month commitment for the run of an exhibition; one three-hour shift per week
Benefits:
- Opportunity to support one of the nation’s leading contemporary art centers
- Opportunity to learn about YBCA’s exhibitions from the curators and artists
- Unlimited gallery admission for you and one guest for the exhibition you work
- If interested, please email us your resume
Daytime Office Volunteers
Daytime volunteers support YBCA’s administrative staff on an "as-needed" basis between 9 am and 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Requirements:
- General office skills; duties include answering telephones, taking messages, greeting guests, preparing mailings, clipping news articles, photo copying, paste-up, filing and data entry
- Availability during the work day
Benefits:
- Opportunity to support one of the nation’s leading contemporary art centers
- Admission to YBCA exhibitions
Internships
Unpaid Internships are available from time to time within specific departments. Internships provide valuable job experience and an inside look at the workings of a contemporary arts center. See the
Jobs section for currently available positions.