Volunteer with us!
Each year, the Queer Arts Festival puts out a call for volunteers to help us run our summer festival. Wanna join us?
Queer Arts Festival 2025: Portals is actively seeking volunteers from June 6 – 28.
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, a free QAF membership, and will have the chance to win prizes 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, fill out a volunteer application on our Better Impact website!
Please reach out to us at volunteer@queerartsfestival.com if you have any questions or need assistance signing up.
Perks of Volunteering 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!
- 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 bartenders and greeters. We can work around your schedule and find the right fit for you!
Volunteer Roles Include:
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 SUM gallery (that’s us!) or On Main Gallery, both in the Sun Wah Centre in Chinatown! Exhibition locations and information can be found on our website.
Welcome Crew
The Welcome Crew are the first point of contact for our guests at the Sun Wah Centre! As Welcome Crew, you’ll be stationed at the ground floor of the building to let people in the front gate and direct them towards the elevators and stairs. This is an essential role for our events and is the perfect opportunity to meet people within the community!
Food Service Helper
You’ll be serving food 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.
Bartender*
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 Bartenders must have a current SIR or SES certification.
Front of House
As Front of House, you will greet guests and assist with any questions they may have about the event, venue, ticketing, and more! You may be asked to take cash donations and monitor a donation jar as well as take donations via Square.
Set-Up / Take-Down Crew
If you’re a jack-of-all-trades, these positions are perfect for you! You will help us with the set-up or clean up of our events. These positions are great for socializing and making connections.
Photographer
Are you good with a camera? Photographers will snap pictures at our events that we’ll be able to use on our social media and for the sweet memories!
Poster & Postcard Distribution
We’re looking for some superstar volunteers to help us get our posters and postcards out into the wider community! We drop off, pin up, and spread out our posters and postcards at various university campuses, coffee shops, small business, bars, and more. This is a volunteer role you can do on your own schedule. Best suited for those who are comfortable walking longer distances and socialising.
Neighbourhoods where we distribute our posters: Chinatown, Main Street, Commercial Drive, Davie, UBC, SFU, Emily Carr, Langara, VCC.
If you’re interested, email volunteer@queerartsfestival.com and our Volunteer Coordinator will follow up with you to coordinate which neighbourhood you can distribute materials in, as well as a pick-up time from our office in Chinatown.