Virtual Volunteering: Volunteer opportunity regarding publicity and other exhibit-related texts

Virtual Volunteering: Content Development regarding publicity and other exhibit-related texts

Volunteer opportunity regarding publicity and other exhibit-related texts

Identifying and processing publicity and other exhibit-related material on American representational art for inclusion in Resource Library. Volunteers may assist in any or all of the following:

(a) requesting inclusion in a museum's media list for exhibitions.

(b) following up on TFAO's Calendars of Exhibitions to request media materials, wall text, label copy, checklists, gallery guides and other texts for an exhibition.

How TFAO uses calendars

Towards the end of each month TFAO volunteers review that month's calendar for all of the listed exhibition openings. TFAO then reviews published exhibition articles and essays in the sub-index page for each related museum to determine if Resource Library has already published an article or essay concerning each calendar listing. If Resource Library has not yet published an article or essay, TFAO sends by email a request for exhibition information to the museum. TFAO sends requests near the end of the exhibition opening month to allow museums time to gather .jpg images and texts from gallery guides, brochures or catalogues, exhibition wall panels and labels, as well as press releases. TFAO requires six hundred or more words of text to publish a Resource Library article or essay for an exhibition.

Communications employees of museums have a high turnover rate. For this reason TFAO does not maintain a contact database. In most instances, study of a museum's website will provide a name and email address of the person in charge of media relations. This contact information unfortunately is often not readily evident. If the museum's website has an "about" or "information" pull down menu, there may be a link to "press" or "staff" or "contact." If other instances there may be a "press room" page without personal contact information yet have inks to current press releases. Those press releases may have contact names and email addresses at the top or bottom of them. Sometimes the only email address for the museum is a general email mailbox. Digging around the website usually produces a contact name and email address, sometimes in an unexpected page. If all else fails, a call to the receptionist of the museum will produce the name and email address needed.

Click here for examples of email letter templates used by volunteers.

Volunteer requirements

1. Experience including

five years service as an art museum docent, or
one year full-time employment in an art museum's education, media relations or curatorial department

2. BA or BS degree from an accredited college or univesity

3. Access to a computer and email

4. Willingness to devote an average of 10 hours per month.

References and recommendations

TFAO requires that applicants for this position provide confirmation of their qualifying experience. This is accomplished by applicants contacting persons who supervise or previously supervised them in their place of employment or service and asking them to send experience confirmation by email from their institutional email addresses. Recommendations from persons of authority are also welcome.

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rev. 12/9/06