AGWA’s passionate Voluntary Gallery Guides bring the Gallery’s varied Collection to life through free guided tours. As a Voluntary Gallery Guide you will inspire creativity and stimulate conversations with education audiences and our daily visitors.
As an AGWA Guide you will receive:
- Invaluable experience working within one of Western Australia’s most significant cultural institutions in a collegial and welcoming group.
- Opportunities to develop new skills related to the arts industry.
- Regular opportunities to look at, learn about and talk about art with a wonderful group of
- like-minded people.
- Free entry into all paid exhibitions at the Art Gallery of WA.
- Occasional discounted or complimentary invitations to arts activities and events in Perth.
- 10% discount at Frank, the coffee shop at the Gallery.
- 15% discount at the Gallery Shop (excluding catalogues).
- A great feeling that you are contributing to the cultural health and wellbeing of our community.
The ideal Guide will have:
Exceptional communication skills
- A good grasp of spoken and written English is desirable. We welcome applicants whose second language is English.
- Proficiency in a second language, including AUSLAN, is valuable but not required. We provide scheduled tours in languages other than English when possible.
- The ability to communicate effectively with others, especially school-aged children, in a friendly and engaging manner.
Enthusiasm for arts and culture, and willingness to learn.
- A keen interest in the visual arts and a desire to expand one's knowledge and interact with art of different genres.
- The ability to research, interpret and absorb new information and to order material in a logical manner.
A reliable and positive attitude towards work.
- The ability to commit to the time required for initial training and, once qualified, to carry out the duties required of a Guide
As a Voluntary Gallery Guide, you will:
Be an ambassador for the Gallery
- Maintain our exceptional standard of customer service to visitors, ensuring that everyone has an enjoyable experience at the Gallery.
- Embody AGWA’s values both inside and outside the Gallery by upholding the Code of Conduct.
- Show your support through advocacy of the Exhibition and Guiding programs.
Be an active member of the Guides
- Participate in the training program for Gallery Guides at AGWA. Training runs fortnightly, Friday mornings, from 31 January to October, 2020.
- Research and share information with your fellow Guides about artworks in the State Art Collection and temporary exhibitions.
- Grow your knowledge and understanding of visual arts through attendance of fortnightly professional development meetings.
- Collaborate with your peers to research and prepare for exhibitions.
- Research, plan and conduct tours, starting with tours for primary school students.
- Time commitment for Gallery Guides is approximately 8 hours per week, but this can vary from time to time.
Gallery Guide requirements:
- Complete the Training Program for Voluntary Gallery Guides.
- Attend regular fortnightly Professional Development meetings.
- Engage in extra training provided by the Gallery for special exhibitions.
- Upon graduating from the Training Program, research, plan and conduct a minimum of 28 tours per year, starting with tours for primary school students who visit the Gallery on weekdays during school term time.
- Comply with AGWA’s Code of Conduct and other policies.
- Be able to hold a Working with Children Card and if requested, pass a National Police Clearance. (AGWA will assist with submitting these clearances for any volunteer who does not have one.)
Applications for training 2020 are now closed
Submissions are now closed for the 2020 intake. Check back here mid 2021 for the following year’s call out for applications.
