Volunteer with us!

Each year, Queer Arts Festival puts out a call for volunteers to help us run our summer festival. Wanna join us?

Volunteering with us will be fun, rewarding, and an exciting way to meet new people in Vancouver’s art scene and queer community! All volunteers will also get a free QAF t-shirt, event passes, a free QAF membership, and will have the chance to win the coveted “Queer as Fuck” award at our volunteer appreciation party following the festival.

As a registered charity organization, we rely on the generous time donated by our fabulous volunteers. As a Queer Arts Festival + SUM gallery volunteer, you’ll not only be helping a small, non-profit arts organization succeed, but you’ll also be surrounded by community and get the inside scoop on how we make these events happen. 

If you are interested, or if you would like more information on any of these roles, please reach out to us at volunteer@queerartsfestival.com or fill out a volunteer application using this link

Perks Include: 

  • The “Queer as Fuck” Award 

This prestigious award is presented to the outstanding volunteer who donates the most time with the QAF (and includes prizes)! 

  • Volunteer Appreciation Party

This festival wouldn’t be possible without our fabulous volunteers, so we will wrap things up with a volunteer party and dinner a few days after the festival. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy great food and drinks, win prizes, and more! 

  • Festival Passes

When you work at least two shifts of four hours or more (8+ hours total), you will receive an all-access festival pass. This is an incredible value for your time! Note: you must still register for individual events. 

  • Become a “Card Carrying Queer”

When you volunteer with us, you automatically become a QAF member and a “Card Carrying Queer”

  • T-Shirts

Each volunteer will receive a QAF t-shirt which you can wear all summer long to prove you were a part of the coolest event of the season.

  • Volunteer Gift Bags

A goody bag full of festival memorabilia, gift cards to local businesses, and other tokens of our appreciation! 

  • Daily Drinks and Snacks

Volunteering is hard work, so we will provide complimentary drinks and snacks for everyone during all volunteer shifts. 

We’re looking to fill a variety of positions, from event and gallery hosts to drivers and social media “influencers”. We can work around your schedule and find the right fit for you!

Volunteer Roles Include:

Art Party! Setup

You will help us prepare for the Art Party! Tasks include filling in understaffed areas, assisting with last-minute projects, and helping to make sure the Art Party runs smoothly.

Food Service Helper 

You’ll be serving food (usually bite-sized snacks) at events throughout the festival. You will also do regular rounds of the space, making sure any used cups, napkins or plates are recycled. Some light dish-washing might also be something you’re asked to do.

Bar Server*

Do you know your way around a bar? Bartenders serve beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks; keep the fridge stocked; and accept drink tickets. This is a position that offers lots of social contact – flirting opportunities abound. Quiet, enigmatic bartenders are also welcome. Bartenders must be at least 19 years old. *All Bar Servers must have a current SIR or SES certification.

Box Office Assistant

You will be assisting the Box Office by helping guests with their tickets, memberships, and/or merch. You will be assisting those who have comped (free) tickets (these people are the sponsors, media, volunteers, staff, and artists), people with festival passes, and those who have online tickets. You may be asked to take cash donations and monitor a donation jar. 

Gallery Host

This essential festival role includes greeting and guiding visitors, monitoring attendance numbers, and keeping an eye on the artworks. If you love art, have a knack in connecting with others, and/or enjoy slower-paced jobs—this is the volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteers can sign up to be placed at either the Roundhouse in Yaletown or The James Black Gallery on Main Street. Exhibition locations and information can be found on our website

Runner

If you’re a jack-of-all-trades, this position is perfect for you! As a runner, you must be able to adapt to different jobs throughout the event. You could be helping out with greeting, ushering, box office, and clean up—really anywhere that could use some extra hands!

Glitter is Forever Closing Party Set-Up

You will help us end the festival on a high note at the Glitter is Forever closing party. Tasks include filling in understaffed areas, assisting with last-minute projects, and helping to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Volunteers with Special Superpowers

Influencer

Are you a social-media star who wants to be in the center of the action? We are looking for someone to attend various events and shows, snap photos of the art, attendees, and volunteers, and post to social media. You’ll be having fun and helping us generate buzz for the festival. 

Driver

Do you love to drive? We need people with their own car and driver’s license before and during the festival to run various errands – it could be picking up a performer from the airport, transporting food for catering, or running to the hardware store for that forgotten item. Ideally, Drivers will be able to comfortably lift 30lbs or so, but please still let us know if you’d like to drive but lifting just isn’t your thing. QAF will reimburse Drivers $0.50/km for mileage.

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