Volunteers are core to the achievements and ambition of Collective. Their creative and practical support make the Collective what it is today.

Volunteers have supported artists projects, initiated and organised their own events and contributed to the development of Collective. Collective are proud to support the development of individuals and are pleased to have our work with volunteers recognised through an investing in volunteers award in 2010.

Volunteer Opportunities:

 

1. Six-month Volunteer Projects Assistant placements - recruiting now.

 

Collective Volunteer Projects Assistant

(6 month training placement – voluntary)

 

Collective is looking for enthusiastic, positive, friendly and energetic volunteers to get involved.

 

This position would suit someone looking to begin a career in arts administration. However it also provides the opportunity for individuals to explore decisions about their future, for example in deciding to pursue their own practice. We promise you lots of support and opportunities to develop your skills and confidence - a rewarding and enjoyable experience as you work as part of a knowledgeable and dynamic team!

 

Closing Date: 5pm Friday 23 September 2011
Interview: Wednesday 5 October 2011
Start Date: (Preferred) Tuesday 18 October 2011

 

 

Download role description and person specification.

 

Download application and equal opportunities form.

 

Please send completed form to: katesmith@collectivegallery.net or Collective Gallery, 22-28 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NY. Tel: 0131 2201260

 


2. Ad hoc opportunities to play a vital role in events, projects, installation and previews.

Contact us to join our volunteer database.

 

Thank you to volunteers:

 

Laurie Macpherson, Joe Etch, Roween Suess, Abi Barr, Izzy Morley, Luke Healy, Rebecca Mcgann, Lindsay Boyd, Jasmin Bray-Triance, Neil Ogg, Murray Ferguson, Emily Shepherd, Dane Sutherland.

 

Thanks to volunteers from Staged:

Hannah Watt, Oliver Lurx, Rachael Cloughton, Claire Wilson, Fiona Gordon, Christine Spence, Jessica Argo, Joe Etch, Angelos Papadakis.

 

 

Volunteer partners have included: Training for Work, New Deal, Evoc, Project Scotland, The Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund and The Wave of Friendship.

 

 

Investing in Volunteers logo

Wave of Friendship Logo

Volunteer Projects Assistant
Neil Ogg
October 2010 - March 2011

Having completed my 6-month Volunteer Projects Assistant role at the Collective, I found it to be a hugely enjoyable and rewarding learning experience. So much happened from the first day - straight into the installation process of NWSP 2010 - that it's hard to believe it all took place within 6 months.
 I started right into the New Work Scotland Programme install last October. This was a great way to immediately get involved with the work of the gallery and get to know everyone, including the artists who were recent graduates like myself. Around about this time I was also given tasks such as documenting the show, editing recordings of artists' talks and video footage of Shelly Nadashi’s off-site performance. These tasks immediately allowed me to contribute to the work of the gallery, and so I felt like part of the team very quickly.



During November I was given the responsibility to organise participants for the annual Artists’ DIY Soapbox which involved researching various newly formed artist-run initiatives in Scotland and inviting them to come and give a presentation on who they are and what they do. This was a great way for me to get to know of these grass roots initiatives, but also to gain experience in the organisation and co-ordination of such events. The evening itself was very entertaining and informative.
 Just before Christmas I helped Laura White to prepare some of the tin-foil casts for her Christmas window exhibition Anxious Glory. It was great to see how she worked and to contribute to her display. 



In the New Year I helped to organise a creative publishing event and was also given the opportunity to undertake a training course funded by the gallery. I signed up for a Dreamweaver web design course which has since been very useful to me in making my own website.



The last show I was involved in was White Knight, a group show that brought up some very interesting ideas. Myself and the other Volunteer Projects Assistant - Murray - decided to put on a film screening of Dark Days which was a film we felt explored similar themes to the work on show. It was really good to be encouraged to stage our own event and integrate it into the events programme.



There’s still a whole lot more I’ve not mentioned here, and looking back now I realise just how much I benefited from the experience. The staff have been great too, and the working environment really made it a pleasure to have worked at Collective for 6 months.

 

Volunteer Projects Assistant

Rebecca Mcgann

March 2010 - September 2010

 

As my time as Voluntary Projects Assistant for Collective draws to a close, I’ve looked back over the last 6 months to pick out some notable highlights. No mean feat, as lots of new experiences were crammed into this short time, so picking my favourite bits has been tough…

 

Here are some things that I’ve enjoyed being involved with the most- they span a range on exhibitions, off site projects and one-off events, reflecting the broad spectrum of exciting things I’ve been involved with!

 

Tessa Lynch - Alexandrite offsite

 

Tessa Lynch’s Alexandrite performance and accompanying show conjures up good memories for me, as the first event I worked on at Collective back in April.

 

Torsten Lauschmann’s Patchwork Cinema was a real highlight. With the feverish sourcing of materials to build the patchwork interior, this was a fun show to work on; not least because of the positive influence of Torsten’s laid-back, friendly approach on everyone who worked with him. His playful exploration of early cinema made for a compulsively watchable film, and I fell in love with his hand- powered digital clock film displayed in the first gallery.

 

Torsten Lauschmann - Patchwork Cinema

 

The most challenging part of my time at Collective has to be the install of this year’s summer show, featuring Hito Steyerl’s ‘In Free Fall’, presented as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. With technical hitches providing additional stress levels (mine, anyway), it was great to see the show up and running on the opening night. Although challenging, the show was definitely one of the most satisfying to be a part of; all our hard work paid off, producing one of the most impressive and well-received shows of this year’s festival.

 

Kim Coleman and Jenny Hogarth - Staged

 

Other highlights of the summer included the goings-on up on Calton Hill. As well as Kim Coleman and Jenny Hogarth’s immensely popular video exhibition ‘Staged’, our symposium ‘How to Inform without Informing’ was great fun to work on, and opened my eyes to the complexity of organising and running such events.

 

The internship at Collective has been a great learning experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to gain a greater insight into the workings of a gallery. As well as learning about event management, marketing and administration in the arts, I found it a great working environment, and was given heaps of support by the helpful and friendly Collective team.

 

Having gained a wealth of knowledge during the last 6 months, I’m due to take part in a placement at the Whitechapel gallery in London, organised by Collective. This will give me the chance to use some of the skills accrued during my 6 month placement, and hopefully acquire some more!