As a not-for-profit organisation with limited resources, volunteers are a vital support to the ATW’s creative ecosystem. Each year, hundreds of hours are volunteered to the ATW, which contribute towards a vast array of essential tasks, ranging from arts administration, helping with exhibitions to basic textile conservation. Each ATW volunteer brings independent experience and passion to the workshop and in turn each is given the opportunity to develop new skills and expand networks. Key volunteer areas include:
Tour Guides:
Voluntary guides help the ATW reach hundreds of visitors every year, promoting our work and the art of tapestry. Our dedicated guides provide bi-weekly tours for the public as well as by appointment for larger groups.
Friends Committee:
The Friends of the Australian Tapestry Workshop was established in 1996 to help promote and support the ATW. The Friends of the ATW is facilitated by the Friends Committee, who meet on a bimonthly basis and assist with the delivery of the Friends program.
Busy Bees:
Our Busy Bees are a dedicated corps of volunteers who come to the ATW every other week, collectively donating hundreds of hours of work on tasks otherwise not achievable by staff in the day-to-day running of the ATW.
Public Programs and Events Assistance:
Each year, the ATW hosts a variety of public programs and events, including the Friends of the ATW lecture series, Artist in Residence talks, exhibition openings, and a variety of workshops and classes. Volunteers with interest or experience in events management and education are most suited to this area. Tasks may include helping set up, assisting with catering, and assistance in running events.
Arts Administration:
This role is suited to Arts Management students, artists seeking to expand their skillset beyond their creative practice as well as those with prior administrative experience in different fields. Our arts administration volunteer positions include a variety of administrative tasks, including database management, preparing collateral for workshops and classes, research and website updates, as well as assisting with mail outs.
Library and Archives:
As an organisation that has existed for 44 years, the ATW is home to an expansive collection of fine art and textile specific archives, as well as a substantial library of arts books. Volunteer tasks in this area include organising and collating the library collection.
Exhibition Assistance:
Our volunteer exhibition assistant roles are most suited to individuals with, or looking to acquire, hands-on technical skills through the installation and de-installation of our rotating exhibition program.
We have a range of volunteer opportunities available. Want to find out more? We'd love to hear from you.
contact@austapestry.com.au
+613 9699 7885
As the ATW strives to make each volunteer’s experience as mutually beneficial as possible, volunteers are expected to commit a minimum of 3 months.
The ATW can not achieve all that we do without the generosity of our extraordinary volunteers THANK YOU:
Tour Guides: Jan Wallage (Convenor), Dorothy Bennett, Chris Conlin, Marion Harris, Janet Lilley, Phillip Norris and Essie Marendy.
Friends Committee: Caroline Johnston OAM (Convenor), Cresside Collette, Monica Curro, Elizabeth van Herk and Angela Vary.
Administration, public programs and events: Elizabeth van Herk.
Busy Bees: Jane Annable, Helen Bain, Stephanie Coote, Pamela-Marie Graham, Suzanne Haymes, Pam Hendy, Delwyn Poyser, Jane Sheridan, Geraldine Sheridan, Rowena Von Moger, Lee Wallace, Helen Washington, Liz Watson and Jo Wilson.
