Volunteering
Open Eye Gallery has a long established volunteer programme with a growing community focus. Our volunteers work amongst a team of engaging, committed and creative individuals to ensure that the gallery is a welcoming and friendly place. We provide free access to high quality, innovative and thought-provoking contemporary art from around the world, and our volunteers are a key part of that operation.
As an Open Eye Gallery volunteer, you’ll be the first point of contact welcoming visitors to the gallery. You’ll be responsible for greeting visitors, introducing our current exhibition, handling enquiries and taking care of sales through the gallery shop. There will be opportunities to gain skills in your specific areas of interest, such as exhibition research & installations, events, marketing and audience feedback.
We host regular volunteer socials and support volunteers to showcase their own creative work. Check out our volunteer led publication PLATFORM.
Here’s what our volunteers say about their experience:
- Jake: Open Eye Gallery is a great place to volunteer, It’s a no pressure environment where you can gain key experiences to help with your own creative work, or if preferred just chat with likeminded individuals whilst being around amazing photography work and books!
- Aditi: Everyone at the Open Eye Gallery is welcoming and warm, which makes volunteering a lot more fun. I like the level of flexibility and freedom we get, it is like curating your own volunteer experience.
- Shuai: I feel very grateful to have met these brilliant staff (friends), enthusiastic visitors and gained a lot of experiences!
- Hellen: I started volunteering with Open Eye Gallery two weeks before the first Covid lockdowns … From then and still now, the Open Eye Gallery team are consistently welcoming, helpful and encouraging. I have become an even better photographer, with a social practice. Most importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to show my work with the other volunteers in PLATFORM and on the digital screen, and have delightfully created two photo series that were exhibited as part of the LOOK Climate Lab and Photo Biennial 2022. I’m so grateful because Open Eye Gallery supported me with match funding on projects I produced with an ACE Projects Grant and they are continuing to support my career as a socially engaged photojournalist through mentorship, work opportunities and by linking me with incredible organisations and more experienced photographers that mirror the themes that I want to continue exploring.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
To apply, please download and complete the form below, outlining:
- Why you’d like to be part of the Open Eye Gallery team
- What experience you can bring to the role
- What you would like to gain from the Gallery Assistant – Front of House position
No prior professional experience is necessary, but we are keen to hear from people who:
- Are passionate about photography and art
- Live in the local area
- Align with our core values. Especially, all welcome, always!
- Are looking for a new challenge, to meet new people, to find new skills, and to share their knowledge and experience with others
Please also complete the online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
Please email your completed application form to Alex Sheen (alex@openeye.org.uk), along with confirmation that you have also completed the anonymous Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
We aim to respond within fourteen working days after carefully reviewing your application. If your application is successful, we’ll invite you for an informal chat and role induction at the gallery, before adding you to a call-out list for opportunities.
Please contact the gallery on 0151 236 6768, or email Alex (alex@openeye.org.uk) if you require any support with your application, or if you would prefer an alternative way of applying (e.g. in person).
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