VOLUNTEERING IN CULTURE Coordinated by Fusion Gwynedd OUR AIM There are so many volunteering opportunities out there, it can be difficult to find the right one for you. This booklet is a sort of catalogue, brought together by the Gwynedd Fusion Network, so that anyone interested in volunteering in the world of arts, theatre, music, history and many more can more easily find opportunities that suit them, and get a taste of the type of roles out there. CONTENTS This icon Fusion Background...................................................................... 4 means there's Volunteering in culture................................................................. 5 a useful link! Volunteering in Gwynedd............................................................. 6 How the site pages work...............................................................7 Sites... National Slate Museum, Llanberis............................................... 8 Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd.............................................................. 9 Storiel, Bangor............................................................................. 10 Pontio, Bangor............................................................................. 11 Penrhyn Castle, Bangor............................................................... 12 Wild Elements, Bangor............................................................... 13 Stepping Stones: Peblig, Bangor................................................. 14 Galeri, Caernarfon....................................................................... 15 Canfod y Gân, Harlech/Caernarfon/Pwllheli................................ 16 Harlech Castle, Harlech ............................................................... 17 Llanbedrog Beach, Pwllheli.......................................................... 18 Mynydd Mawr, Aberdaron............................................................ 19 Llŷn Maritime Museum, Nefyn...................................................... 20 Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Pwllheli........................................................ 21 Kids in Museums, across the county........................................... 22 Useful Contacts............................................................................... 23 FUSION BACKGROUND 3 4 VOLUNTEERING IN CULTURE Fusion's aim is to show that culture and heritage have a positive impact on people's lives. What do we mean by 'Culture'? 5 5 VOLUNTEERING IN GWYNEDD 6 HOW THE SITE PAGES WORK Click anywhere on the body of text to see the organisations' volunteering web page! Clicking on the organisation logo will take you to the sites' general web page! 7 NATIONAL SLATE MUSEUM Dinorwig Quarry closed in 1969. Today, rather than fashioning wagons and forging rails, the workshops tell a very special story: the story of the Welsh slate industry. The National Slate Museum is sited in the Victorian workshops built in the shadow of Elidir Mountain, site of the vast Dinorwig quarry. Here you can travel into the past of an industry and a way of life that has chiselled itself into the very being of this country. Type of role: Explore volunteer: a role to support staff and welcome visitors, as a part of the Visitor Services team. Location: National Slate Museum, Llanberis They’re looking for someone who: Has an interest in visitor services Has an interest in the museum Enjoys taking part Enjoys helping others to learn and explore Can speak Welsh and English Commitment: School holidays role only, ideally available between 11.30am-2.3pm, for 3 hours. 8 YR YSGWRN Yr Ysgwrn is not your typical Welsh farmhouse; the place represents a symbolism of a period of social, cultural and agricultural history at the turn of the 20th century. Hedd Wyn's life and death are representative of an entire generation of young men from Wales, Britain and Europe, who faced the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. The location is peaceful, set in a landscape of moving grandeur and beauty, offering opportunities for peaceful reflection. Type of role: Visitor Welcome, Tour Guide, Activities Volunteer, Gardener, Cleaner, Conservation, Researcher, and Rota Volunteer Location: Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd They’re looking for someone who: Training will be Speaks Welsh, or is learning Wants to meet new people and make friends available for all Wants to be a part of a team Wants to develop skills, or experiences roles Commitment: Able to volunteer regularly 9 STORIEL Storiel (formerly known as the Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery) is located in the University City of Bangor. It is the county museum and gallery for Gwynedd. It has an active programme of temporary exhibitions in the museum and gallery, special events and has a permanent display of museum collections relating to various aspects of life in Gwynedd through the ages. It also has a gift shop selling art and craft, and a cafe. Type of role: Visitor Welcome Assistant & Site Assistant, Learning Assistant, and Gardener Location: Storiel, Bangor They're looking for someone who: speaks Welsh or is learning is proactive Is enthusiastic about what Storiel has to offer can be a friendly face for our visitors is flexible, and ready to get stuck in Commitment: Able to volunteer regularly 10 PONTIO Pontio offers an eclectic mix of entertainment seven days a week, from the latest film releases and independent films to music and drama, gigs, contemporary circus and aerial theatre, cabaret shows and more. It is a busy venue, with hundreds of events and screenings every year. A team of dedicated volunteers are needed to assist the Pontio team in ensuring that our audiences have an enjoyable and positive experience. Type of role: Stewarding Location: Pontio, Bangor They're looking for someone who: is interested in Theatre, Live Music and Films, is enthusiastic, friendly and reliable, is over 16 years of age, is looking to meet new people and is keen to learn, develop and apply new skills. We believe that the Arts should be inclusive therefore encourage volunteers from all backgrounds to join us. Commitment: At least once a month 11 NATIONAL TRUST PENRHYN CASTLE Penrhyn Castle is a magnificent Norman Castle, designed by the architect Thomas Hopper for George Hay Dawkins-Pennant and built in the 1820/30s. The castle was designed to impress, and still does today, with stunning interiors, a wonderful art collection, Victorian kitchens and an industrial Railway Museum. It is surrounded by extensive grounds, including a beautiful walled garden, and offers great views of Snowdonia and the coast. Type of role: Castle host, Railway Museum Guide, Victorian Kitchen host, Weekend tour guide, Buggy Driver, Gardener, Shop Assistant, Catering Assistant, Visitor Welcome Assistant, Events Assistant and Run Leader Location: Penrhyn Castle, Bangor They’re looking for someone who: is enthusiastic and friendly, who likes to meet people is eager to learn is a good team player is interested in Penrhyn Castle's history - although you don't need to know much before you start, you will learn along the way! Commitment: Ideally, available at least once a fortnight 12 WILD ELEMENTS Wild Elements is a local, not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to getting people in north Wales outdoors and connecting them to nature, improving their lives, opportunities and aspirations. Services and provisions include accredited training, alternative outdoor education, professional CPD, STEM programmes, arts programmes, Forest School, Beach School, nature connection experiences, fundays, holiday clubs, science clubs, woodland birthday parties for adults and children, community gardens, sensory gardens, ponds, wildlife improvements and much more. Type of role: Arts and Craft Volunteer, Gardening Club Volunteer, and many, many more Location: Treborth Botanical Gardens and Penrhyn Castle, but we work across Gwynedd! They're looking for someone who: is committed is enthusiastic is of any age or ability, but is ready to help with all areas of the business Commitment: Someone able to volunteer ad hoc, fairly regularly 13 STEPPING STONES: PEBLIG Stepping stones is a two-year project designed to bring people together to transform the communal green spaces around Peblig to make it a greener place to live, work and play, full of biodiversity. Working in partnership with the housing association Adra, we want to get the whole community involved to help plant wild-flowers, heritage fruit trees and create a secret garden. Type of role: Wildlife Garden Volunteer Location: Cil Isaf Secret Garden, LL55 2DN They're looking for someone who: is interested in developing skills in wild garden design, gardening and wildlife conservation is of any ability level - you don't need DIY, gardening or ecology skills! is enthusiastic, interested and has the time Commitment: Ideally once a week on Friday mornings - but we welcome any level of commitment No experience needed! 14 GALERI Galeri is a creative enterprise centre located on Victoria Dock, Caernarfon. The centre opened in 2005, and by now it includes a theatre, a two screen cinema, Art Space, rehearsal studios, a creative space for workshops, Cywrain shop and Cafe Bar. It is a part of the community enterprise Galeri Caernarfon Cyf, whose main purpose is to improve the Caernarfon area. Type of role: Events Steward Loc ation: Galeri, Caernarfon They're looking for someone who: Speaks Welsh, or is learning Enjoys meeting people, as you will be welcoming audiences Is enthusiastic Is friendly, as you could be collecting tickets or answering enquiries If you would like to volunteer