ArtPrize offers group volunteer and leadership opportunities | Arts & Culture

Many people like to volunteer as a team, and for the first time, ArtPrize is inviting groups of people to volunteer together for the annual event. Groups can include employees from a company; members of a club or association, or even just a group of friends who want to spend time together. Groups of at least 10 can register for wayfinding shifts starting today at www.artprize.org/get-involved/volunteers/groups.

Organizing a group to volunteer for ArtPrize is a fun way to see art, spend time in the great city of Grand Rapids, give back to the community, and spend time with your friends or co-workers. All groups must have a team leader and all commitments and names must be made before August 10.

“Many organizations promote volunteering as a way for employees to learn more about each other and to build up a strong team culture,” said Amelea Pegman, director of Volunteer Services at ArtPrize. “There’s an opportunity for people to take up different roles from their workplace by experimenting with new endeavors.”

Group leaders will receive all communications on behalf of the group regarding volunteering and will be responsible for communicating with all group members. All group members will be required to attend any orientations required before volunteering. Orientations will take place the week before ArtPrize.

ArtPrize is also creating a designation of volunteer who want to do a little bit more during ArtPrize. The Volunteer Leader will help lead teams of people to create a strong, consistent ArtPrize presence during the 19-day event. Leadership opportunities include:

• Hospitality 
• Wayfinding
• Mobile Retail
• HUB concierge
• Educational team leads

Leadership roles require a little extra training and commitment, but will have additional rewards and benefits.

“Without volunteers, ArtPrize would not be possible. It could not bring artists into the city or create the connections and conversations around art that are unique to the event,” added Pegman. “We need 1,000 people every year to fill 2,000 shifts and contribute 10,000 hours to that the event will run smoothly.”

All registered volunteers are invited to an exclusive “Kick-Off Rally” on August 15, 2012 on the 5th floor of 55 Campau, overlooking the Grand River. The event will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Volunteer Kick-Off Rally is a way for volunteers to meet ArtPrize staff, get enthusiastic about ArtPrize and become the primary ambassadors of what makes ArtPrize different from other art competitions.