MRAG Maitland Regional Art Gallery

As a Reception volunteer, be ready to say hello and offer a smile. MRAG is a friendly, accessible gallery and our Reception volunteers are often the ones who make the first impression to all who come in the door. As part of our weekly roster, Reception volunteers quickly learn the ropes of this people-friendly role and help out with other duties including collecting and delivering mail, keeping visitor attendance records, talking to the public, answering phones and monitoring the Art Factory project space.

Dr Sandra Tweedy – Sandra is an economic historian, who joined as a volunteer because of her interests in local Maitland history. Sandra volunteers weekly in a reception volunteer position. Greeting visitors to MRAG is really enjoyable because they come from so many different backgrounds and places, aside from Maitland: they always have something interesting to tell us. Without exception, they delight in our marvelous gallery and say so!

Event volunteers at MRAG are team-workers and multi-taskers. Every few weeks they walk in the door to help set up for events such as openings or public programs. After setting up, Event volunteers assist caterers, gallery staff and artists in a range of ways. They keep their eyes peeled for abandoned glasses while offering canapés, and chat with visitors while serving glasses of wine. At the end, Event volunteers clear up and pack away ready for next time.

Those with a creative eye find themselves at home as Gallery Shop volunteers, working with our Merchandise Coordinator to maintain beautiful displays and shop items. Gallery Shop volunteers are people with an eye for detail, regularly assisting with cleaning and maintaining the display units, labelling and stocktaking items, and of course arranging and re-arranging. They also don’t mind helping pick out a piece of jewellery or a gift with customers.

Robyn Redford – Robyn has retired from teaching, working with the TAFE in adult education in areas of basic education and disability. She volunteers weekly. I bought so many gifts and things here, eventually they suggested I volunteer! The atmosphere is inspiring, I always feel uplifted working in amongst such beautiful things and objects.

Installation volunteers are methodical, careful and hard-working members of our volunteer crew. Every few weeks they lend their time to assist our Installation Coordinator with all manner of tasks. It seems every new exhibition is a new challenge and a new opportunity to learn. Installation volunteers work with curators and the art gallery director, framing, moving and installing works of art. They work within professional standards and gallery practice, increasing their knowledge of the art world or just enjoying a day full of activity.

Alison Newman – Alison began volunteering with installation in early 2010.  She lives on a farm driving approximately an hour to get to MRAG each time. Its part of my general philosophy really, we should all give back to the community in some way.

Fun loving and child-friendly, Education volunteers play a crucial role in encouraging new audiences to engage with our art gallery. Education programs at MRAG cater for a wide range of audiences, and volunteers in this area work with artists and educators to present innovative programs to kids and families. With activities for little ones, kids and teens, Education volunteers do more than just clean out the paintbrushes, they develop their vocational experience and help to make the art gallery a place kids want to come back to.

Christian Kauter - Christian works regularly as a gallery educator in a paid capacity for MRAG Education. An artist living in Newcastle, Christian has supported MRAG Education in a volunteer roles during exhibition installations in the Art Factory. Im happy to lend a hand where needed, its great experience and a great team of people to work with.