Jerwood volunteers
Make 2014 your creative year at the Jerwood!
The Jerwood Gallery is seeking volunteers to join its vibrant team as Gallery Stewards, supporting its work as a cultural hub in Hastings, and playing a key role in the network of coastal galleries across the South East.
The award-winning Jerwood Gallery, situated next to the fishing beach in Hastings’ historic Old Town, is the home for the Jerwood Collection of 20th and 21st century art and changing contemporary exhibition programme. Displayed in seven collection rooms, the Jerwood Collection comprises of paintings as well as works on paper and prints by British artists working between the First World War and the 1960s. The collection includes works by well-known artists including Sir Stanley Spencer, Lawrence Stephen Lowry, Walter Sickert and Augustus John.
Jerwood Gallery has a diverse temporary exhibition programme, which showcases the best modern and contemporary British art. The exhibitions, which change quarterly, are displayed in the gallery’s Foreshore Gallery on the ground floor.
Volunteers play a vital part in the gallery’s operations, ensuring that the delivery of the highest standard of visitor engagement and experience, whilst involving the local community. Volunteers at the Jerwood Gallery contribute to the quality experience that is vital to ensuring customers are able to enjoy and engage with the collection and exhibitions, as well as feeling at home within the gallery space.
If you would like to meet like-minded people, be active within your local community, learn new skills, and expand your knowledge of 20th and 21st century art, the Gallery would love to welcome you to its team. Every volunteer receives a full induction and training. Volunteers can also enjoy free entry to the gallery, social events, discount in both the gallery shop and café, and free entry tickets for guests. Volunteers will join the team from 1 February 2014. On the 3 December and 7 January Front of House Coordinator, Becky Fletcher, is hosting a drop in session for people interested in volunteering to meet her, gain a feel for the gallery, meet the team, and find out more about volunteering opportunities.
Liz Gilmore, Director of Jerwood Gallery, says:
“We are very excited about this new venture for the gallery and are looking forward to welcoming new people to our team. Our First Tuesday drops in will provide fantastic opportunity to meet the team here and to find out more about the opportunities that we offer for volunteers. The diverse skills and experience that volunteers offer will be hugely beneficial to the gallery and to the visitor experience.”
Volunteer drop-ins will take place on the First Tuesday openings from 4-8pm on 3 December and 7 January. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the gallery and meet the team. For more information about volunteering at the Jerwood Gallery please contact Becky Fletcher, Front of House Coordinator, rebecca@jerwoodgallery.org t: 01424 728377 or download an application form.
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13 Comments
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The author of this article decided to allow the above comment by ‘Alice in Wonderland’, but has the following additional comments to make:
1. Someone who fails to give his real name should not expect the right to have his comments published.
2. The main premise is incorrect. To the best of my knowledge, the Jerwood Gallery is part of a UK based charitable foundation and as such its tax affairs are agreed in advance with the Inland Revenue and the Charities Commission. See http://www.jerwoodgallery.org/about/jerwood
3. The paid jobs affected were only 2 part-time jobs according to the Jerwood statement:
“a number of new permanent positions have been created as a result of the (staff) restructure, providing new and permanent job opportunities for most of the staff affected. In total 8 staff have been effected and 6 of these staff members have been re-employed in new paid roles, the level of impact has therefore been mitigated as much as possible.”
4. I therefore regard Alice in Wonderland’s comments as unfounded and ungracious.
Comment by Chris Cormack — Wednesday, Dec 18, 2013 @ 17:58
Interesting…they have millions in the bank and as their status is an offshore company they do not pay any UK taxes….and yet they ask for volunteers from a town which has serious unemployment problems….does not add up.
Comment by Alice in Wonderland — Wednesday, Dec 18, 2013 @ 14:53
To quote Rebbecca Fletcher herself ” …we have had to seek ways to control our costs. One of the changes is a staff restructure.” So she confirms job reductions and we can conclude that the volunteer program is to fill the gap. As said previously … If an employer pays someone less than the minimum wage it is illegal and they can be fined. If they pay them nothing and call them a volunteer…
Of course they are having financial problems as they have priced themselves out of the market … very few people want to pay £8 entry to a small gallery. The 50% increase in entry fee for local residents is a further betrayal of their original commitment to the local community. Whenever I pass the galley it’s empty except on the first Tuesday of the month when it seems to have a decent footfall.
Comment by Mark Twin — Monday, Dec 9, 2013 @ 11:36
Rebecca Fletcher of the Jerwood Gallery commented to Hastings Creatives as follows:
“In response to some queries from members of Hastings Creatives, we would like to address the points raised regarding the new volunteering programme at the Jerwood Gallery:
The volunteer posts, along with a number of new paid roles, are new positions and have been created as part of a staffing restructure.
Having now been fully operational for 18 months, we have had to make a number of decisions regarding our operational and financial structure in the context of the need to become a more financially resilient arts organisation. Jerwood Gallery does not receive any public funding and like many other galleries and museums we have had to seek ways to control our costs. One of the changes is a staff restructure.
As a result of the staffing restructure we have regrettably had to reduce the number of part-time gallery staff and their contracts will not be renewed at the end of this year. However a number of new permanent positions have been created as a result of the restructure, providing new and permanent job opportunities for most of the staff affected. In total 8 staff have been effected and 6 of these staff members have been re-employed in new paid roles, the level of impact has therefore been mitigated as much as possible.
The new volunteer positions will provide opportunity for more people to be involved with the gallery and to gain valuable experience of working in an arts organisation. We are working closely with Hastings Voluntary Action and Volunteering England to ensure that we create a positive and fulfilling experience for all of our volunteers.
Kind regards,
Rebecca
Rebecca Fletcher
Front of House Coordinator”
Comment by Chris Cormack — Wednesday, Dec 4, 2013 @ 11:17
If an employer pays someone less than the minimum wage it is illegal and they can be fined. If they pay them nothing and call them a volunteer they can get away with it scot free and call it “an exciting new venture”. Shame on on you Jerwood, making people redundant and then replacing them with unpaid staff!
Comment by Mark Twin — Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013 @ 21:03
If you’re having a creative year, don’t forget to socialise with other artists and creative people on the first Thursday of every month at the St Leonards Artists Group Social! Next social is Thursday 5 December at our regular monthly meet-up venue the St Leonard Public House.
All artists * creatives * designers * writers * printers *makers * doers * photographers * film-makers are welcome!
The St Leonards Artists Group Social is a purely social event with no agenda: it’s just a way to make new friends – meet old friends – network – discuss – share – swap – chat – make plans.
Comment by Deletism — Monday, Dec 2, 2013 @ 12:09
I have to agree with Kat. Nuff said?
Comment by SJS — Sunday, Dec 1, 2013 @ 21:28
Great idea but horrific timing. I love the Jerwood and I’d love to be a volunteer but as Rod Smith points out, the news about redundancies really undermines what’s happening here as “an exciting new venture” and is the single thing that stops me from putting myself forward. I wouldn’t want my presence as a willing volunteer to validate someone else having lost their job (to the powers that be) and I certainly wouldn’t want to undermine those professional people who are being laid off by stepping into their qualified shoes with my unqualified, but enthusiastic ones. For me, someone losing their job makes it impossible for me to volunteer, so the Jerwood loses twice over. Exciting new venture it may be, but well-timed and tactful it isn’t.
Comment by Kat — Wednesday, Nov 27, 2013 @ 19:56
Laying off staff any then expecting people to work for nothing at a commercial venture doesn’t sound very community spirited
Comment by Rod Smith — Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 @ 22:20
Hi folks ! would love to get involved where I can; sounds like a great opportunity X
Comment by Ems — Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 @ 19:42
The Jerwood,which has already achieved so much by revitalising the rather rundown,older end of Hastings and St Leonards,has again seized the initiative to make art an important part of everyone’s life;hopefully some younger volunteers will be attracted by the plan.
Comment by Peter Mann — Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 @ 17:53
Looks fab, great to see Hastings encouraging the general public to get involved in art!
Comment by Photo Girl — Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 @ 16:52
Worked in association to provide exhibitions for their gallery space and held our first Tea Cosy – alternative art craft and design fair, which was supported by the Spark Plug Curators Award 2007, Crafts Council, England.
Comment by Robbie Walters — Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 @ 14:58