Portsmouth 100 Exhibition Volunteer

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is embarking on an exciting transformation across 3 galleries in preparation to host a 5-year Portsmouth100 exhibition: "Your museum. Your stories. Your city". Portsmouth100 celebrates 100 years of city status through community stories, exhibitions, and interactive digital content. We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to join our Portsmouth100 Exhibition Team and help create a welcoming, engaging, and memorable experience for visitors. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a high-profile cultural project, meet new people, and play a key role in bringing Portsmouth’s rich history and stories to life.

As a volunteer, you will help visitors make the most of their experience by offering information, answering questions, encouraging interaction with exhibition features, and sharing your enthusiasm for the project. Whether you're interested in local history, arts and culture, or simply enjoy connecting with people, this is a rewarding and enjoyable role at the heart of an exciting city-wide celebration. There are a number of sections within the galleries, such as art, transport, sport, Portsmouth Football Club, education, music, and markets, where if you have expressed a particular passion, you can act as a champion based on your knowledge, interests, and expertise.

Tasks involved:

You will be volunteering in a front-line role as part of a team of volunteers, supported by staff within Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery in the Portsmouth100 exhibition. Tasks vary and will include:

· Welcoming visitors, providing information about the exhibition and any activities taking place

· Acting as a champion for a particular section if you have expressed an interest in doing this

· Answering visitors' questions, listening to visitors' memories, and offering information about the exhibition and related activities

· Helping visitors interact with exhibition features

· Encouraging and directing visitors to make the most of all areas of the museum - eg shop, café and garden

· Informing staff of any faults or problems within the galleries, the interactive elements or displays

· Reporting to staff any health and safety concerns in the exhibition

· Assisting with basic maintenance, preparation, light cleaning and tidying to ensure the area is safe and prepared for public access

· Directing visitors to where they can leave their feedback

· Offering mini tours of the exhibition if you have expressed an interest in doing this (TBC)

· Assisting staff with city-wide Portsmouth100 community activities for community groups, schools and general public (such as guided tours, heritage and art workshops, arts and crafts activities, stall in events) if you have expressed an interest in doing this (TBC)

Time commitment:

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is open 6 days a week, Tuesdays to Sundays 10am - 5pm with some Monday openings on Bank Holidays from Easter to August, and Mondays during Hampshire school holidays. A typical commitment is one half or whole day per week. Slots available are 9.45am - 1.15pm and 1pm - 4.30pm to cover opening hours and we will accommodate other hours where we can.

Additional opportunities may be available for special events or for community events off-site, within Portsmouth.

What we need from you:

· To be enthusiastic about the project, approachable to visitors and reliable with good time keeping

· To have good clear communication and enjoy talking with visitors of all types, in a friendly style that makes them feel welcome and informed

· To have good knowledge of the exhibition, the museum as a whole, our other museum sites and events, and to be able to communicate this to visitors

· To be comfortable working in an environment where you will need to stand for periods of time

· To have a collaborative and respectful approach to working with staff, other volunteers and visitors

· To be an advocate for Portsmouth Museums, demonstrating Portsmouth City Council's values and behaviours

· To be conscientious in observing health & safety rules and the security of the site

What training will we provide?

· An induction to Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, a site history and FAQ about the museum

· An introduction to the Portsmouth100 exhibition and a copy of the exhibition book

· Daily morning briefing / afternoon update from the duty manager

· Health & safety and emergency site evacuation training

· Best practice for excellent customer service / gallery interpretation

What will you gain in return?

· Experience of public facing roles, strengthening confidence in public engagement and interpretation within a heritage environment

· Develop skills required to engage with visitors of all types

· Role specific training from staff

· Become part of a welcoming team that values heritage, community involvement, and a collaborative approach to work

· Enjoy a rewarding role working with like-minded people, that helps visitors understand and appreciate the history of Portsmouth

· Invitation to a volunteer preview training date, thank you events, and relevant activities organised for Portsmouth Museums staff and volunteers

· Volunteer discount card for use in Portsmouth Museums shops

Skills

- Minimum 18 years old 

- Can provide two references (either two professional or one professional and one character)

- Available for one shift a week (Tuesday - Saturday, 9.45am - 1.15pm and/or 1pm - 4.30pm)

- To be enthusiastic about the project, approachable to visitors and reliable with good time keeping

- To have good clear communication and enjoy talking with visitors of all types, in a friendly style that makes them feel welcome and informed

- To have good knowledge of the exhibition, the museum as a whole, our other museum sites and events, and to be able to communicate this to visitors

- To be comfortable working in an environment where you will need to stand for periods of time

- To have a collaborative and respectful approach to working with staff, other volunteers and visitors

- To be an advocate for Portsmouth Museums, demonstrating Portsmouth City Council's values and behaviours

- To be conscientious in observing health & safety rules and the security of the site