Volunteer Information Role Description

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION ROLE DESCRIPTION KEY INFORMATION ABOUT BELFAST EXPOSED

Belfast Exposed is Northern Ireland’s principal gallery of contemporary photography, commissioning, publishing and showing work by artists and photographers from Northern Ireland and across the world.

Founded in 1983 by a group of local photographers as a challenge to media representation of the city’s experience of conflict, our work continues to reflect a socially engaged ethos, while responding to contemporary currents in photography and politics further afield. Located in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, our exhibitions, publications and photography projects with artists and local communities are accompanied by related talks, community events and discussions.

Open for browsing during gallery hours, our Bookshop stocks a range of thought provoking photographic, arts and social sciences titles, while our Reading Room provides welcoming space for study and research, with access to an extensive collection of books and reference materials. A selection of almost 2,000 images from our archive has been digitised and made available for browsing on the iMac in the Exchange Space on level 1. A smaller selection is accessible online.

Belfast Exposed also provides Photography Courses for the general public and designs bespoke photography training for schools, colleges, businesses and community groups.

PUBLIC GALLERY OPENING HOURS Tuesday to Saturday: 11am to 5pm Sunday: 1pm to 5pm

1st Thursday of each month: 11am to 5pm & 6pm to 9pm (Late Night Art)

Exhibition openings, talks and workshops are occasionally held outside standard opening hours.

PUBLIC RESOURCES

Bookshop – The only independent bookshop in Belfast dedicated to photography. We sell a wide range of publications including contemporary and historical photobooks, limited edition and self-published titles, zines, Belfast Exposed publications, theoretical and other general interest books as well as BX archive prints and postcards.

Archive & Resource Room – The Archive & Resource room at Belfast Exposed is a dedicated shared space for research and reflection. Located on the first floor, it combines a MAC holding 3000+ digital images from our archive with a wide range of books that trace the history of Belfast Exposed. It contains books that have informed our research and projects, self-published titles, exhibition catalogues, and an extensive collection of photobooks and photography journals. It also features a collection of special interest books relating to previous exhibitions as recommended by the artist and curator.

Darkroom, Studio & Digital Suite - These are available for non-commercial use only and are primarily for the benefit of voluntary, community and charitable organisations with non-profit making purpose. There is a small fee for members of the public to use these resources.

Volunteers have access to all of our resources subject to availability and necessary training.

TRAINING COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

We have 30 years experience of delivering practical training courses enabling students to develop and grow as photographers. Our photography training structure has 4 stages, with each stage designed to help develop students’ photography skills, understanding of photography as a creative medium and understanding of themselves as photographers. Participants can commence training at any level and courses run throughout the year.

VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTION

Volunteers have been integral to Belfast Exposed’s development over the years. While helping provide entry-level opportunities for people emerging from NI schools, colleges and universities seeking to develop careers as artists and arts professionals, our volunteer programme also offers opportunities for people to gain broader work experience or contribute to the cultural life of the city.

We currently maintain a dedicated team of volunteers who support us in the day-to-day running of the gallery and who serve as a first point of contact for all visitors to the organisation. We have recently introduced a Community Volunteer programme, which runs in parallel to the Gallery Volunteer programme. Through the Community programme, volunteers are offered facilitation training, and opportunities to assist BX tutors during our community outreach workshops. We are committed to working with volunteers and we aim to provide volunteering opportunities that are interesting, engaging and rewarding.

We can reimburse up to £5 per day for travel costs. We also offer free access to the darkroom/digital suite and, wherever possible to participation in staff training and development programmes. On occasion we may be able to offer our volunteers opportunities through other organisations. There is also a generous 50% discount on our training courses, and 15% off selected publications in the BX Bookshop.

ROLE TITLE: GALLERY VOLUNTEER

ROLE OVERVIEW

Volunteers fulfil an essential role within the Belfast Exposed as a whole. As the gallery invigilator, the volunteer on duty will be the first (and often the only) point of contact for all visitors to the gallery, and often for visitors to other parts of the organisation. Volunteers have a duty and responsibility to serve as a friendly, welcoming ambassador for Belfast Exposed, and to deal with any queries or issues in a suitable manner.

There are 3 key aspects within the role of Gallery Volunteer: Gallery Invigilator, Events Assistant and Installation Assistant. All volunteers are expected to commit to at least one invigilation shift per week or per fortnight, and in addition there are opportunities to assist at events such as exhibition openings, late night art, talks and workshops. Between each exhibition volunteers are required to assist with both the take down and installation of work, which includes the preparation of our gallery spaces.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

. To provide essential support to Belfast Exposed staff

. To provide front-of-house and behind the scenes assistance and support to Belfast Exposed staff

. To behave as an ambassador for the organisation

. Gallery invigilation

. Greeting visitors, responding to enquiries and providing information about the exhibition on show

. To be knowledgeable about the exhibitions on show as well as Belfast Exposed events, training

courses, workshops and resources

. Assisting at Belfast Exposed events such as: exhibition openings, talks, Late Night Art and

workshops

. Assisting at events and workshops held at Belfast Exposed . Promoting the work of Belfast Exposed

BENEFITS

. Free access to BX resources – Dark Room, Digital Suite & Studio

. Volunteer Discount Scheme – Up to 50% off BX Training Courses & Workshops

. Occasionally we may be able to offer volunteers free spaces for selected workshops and events

. Relevant experience for a CV

. In certain circumstances we may be able to offer a reference for employment applications

. Networking opportunities

. Opportunity to become involved with projects within the organisation

. Belfast Exposed can cover up to £5 in travel expenses for each shift worked

TRAINING

All volunteers will receive core training and an induction on joining the Belfast Exposed Volunteer Team. Inductions will also be given at the beginning of each exhibition period. Occasionally, additional training opportunities are offered, and we will contact volunteers as these arise.

Our volunteers are encouraged to attend our extensive talks programme which runs alongside each exhibition – serving as a way for volunteers to become knowledgeable about the exhibition on show as well as providing key networking opportunities.

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT

At Belfast Exposed we are continually developing our volunteer programme, and we always welcome thoughts and ideas from our team members. Volunteers are a crucial element of our organisation, and we are always searching for new ways to involve members of our volunteer programme – we endeavour to offer our volunteers the opportunities and experience they desire where possible.

In the past we have facilitated ‘crit’ sessions for volunteers wishing to receive feedback on their own photography and artistic practice in an informal environment with other volunteers and members of the gallery staff. In 2013 our volunteers curated an exhibition ‘Resolutions’ in the main space, and in 2014 the team developed their own bodies of work in response to our ‘Reconstructions’ exhibition resulting in a group exhibition in our second gallery space.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

We have recently added a new dimension to our volunteer programme in addition to the role of Gallery Volunteer. A number of successful applicants have had the opportunity to be trained in facilitation skills, and will be assisting our tutors in the delivery of workshops within communities across the country.