Career-developing volunteer positions for this July’s Beverley Puppet Festival are open for applications.
“The festival is looking for volunteers with community spirit, love of the arts and an interest in ensuring a great experience for visitors,” said Vicky Yannoula, festival director (trainee), and volunteer manager and trainer.
“Volunteer opportunities are available across the festival weekend and in the two-week run up to the festival in various roles including technical theatre, box office, artist liaison, stewarding and more.
“If you’re interested just complete the volunteer application as soon as you can – we’d love to hear from you and get you on board.” See: https://www.beverleypuppetfestival.com/volunteer
Artist Liaison Volunteers will make sure performers’ needs are well cared for; Technical Support Volunteers will back up the Technical Manager with sound, lighting and staging; Box Office Volunteers will help with box office and sales; Indoor Steward Volunteers will work with venue managers to welcome visitors; and Outdoor Steward Volunteers will work with street performers around the town.
The festival organisers aim to offer volunteers references, employability advice, and signposting to jobs in the arts and culture sector. Volunteers must be aged 18 or over, or accompanied by a parent/guardian volunteer if younger.
Volunteers will be supporting many free outdoor and ticketed indoor shows such as: Do You Sing in the Shower? by Don’t Panic Puppet Theatre Company; Tiny Clown’s Big Adventure by The Object Project; Carried by the Wind by Goofus Theatre, and The Witch and the Egg by Luminous Tales.
The festival is also running a number of workshops, including the already- sold-out Simple Animal Rod Puppet Making Workshop by Judith Hope, and simple drop-in workshops by Chloe Rodham.
Kerrin Tatman, artistic co-director, said: “As well as volunteering, there are plenty of ways to get involved in our work. “The festival relies on community and collaboration to make it happen.
Whenever possible we post artist call-outs, job positions and career development opportunities as part of our projects.”
As an established event in Yorkshire’s cultural scene, Beverley Puppet Festival has won, and been a repeat finalist, in the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Award for ‘Remarkable Small Tourism Event’.
All tickets for indoor shows can be booked online via the website – book early to avoid disappointment! To keep up-to-date on the Beverley Puppet Festival visit their website.
