Free Arts of Arizona

Ways to Volunteer

Free Arts of Arizona provides many different ways for volunteers to donate their time and talents to improving the lives of Arizona's youth

Weekly Mentor Program

Weekly Mentors are positive role models who make a weekly commitment to share their love of the arts with a group of youth living in one of our partner facilities. With the help of Free Arts staff and a partner mentor, Weekly Mentors develop curriculum for and lead weekly sessions at a facility site, attend mentor meetings, and assist with tracking the number of children we serve through the program. Mentors are not necessarily artists, but volunteers who want to help children express themselves through the arts. For many youth, their Weekly Mentors are the only consistent, unpaid adults in their lives! 
 
New mentors are trained three times a year. Mentors commit to one mentor term but may choose to continue mentoring in subsequent terms. Mentor groups are held during the day, in the evenings and on weekends. Mentors must be willing to drive at least 25 minutes from their home or work and must be able to commit to the entire term.

Term dates 2011:
Spring: Feb 13 - May 26
Spring 2nd Session: April 1- May 26
Summer: June 3- July 28
Fall: September 9 - Dec 15
Fall 2nd Session: October 8- Dec 15
 
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jessica Flowers, Weekly Program Manager, at 602.258.8100 ext 20 or email jflowers@freeartsaz.org

Age Requirement: minimum 19, sometimes 21

Time Commitment: 1 hour a week for the length of the term, ranging from 8-16 weeks. Time is also needed for program preparation and driving.

Free Arts Days

A Free Arts Day is a one day “exploration of the arts” for children and their families from Free Arts’ partner facilities. Many of these days are in partnership with arts organizations or commissioned guest artists who perform or lead a special activity. The exposure to a variety of art activities with the support of caring volunteers, allows children to explore their talents and creativity while building self-esteem. Each day will be structured differently depending on the population and age range of the youth, as well  location.

Volunteers are an essential piece of Free Arts Days and are vital to the success of the program. Each Free Arts Day is slightly different and volunteers can participate in one of two roles. One volunteer role is to be paired or “buddied” with a child or group of children during the entire event. As a buddy, volunteers act as a special friend, encourage youth to take risks through experiencing new forms of art, praise their accomplishments through completing an art project and have fun! The other volunteer role is to facilitate and lead art activities and stations while fostering a non-judgmental environment and creating a time of rest for the youth.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Teniqua Broughton, Program Director, at 602.258.8100 ext 23 or email tbroughton@freeartsaz.org.

Corporate Volunteers
If a business or corporation is interested in participating in a Free Arts Day, a representative from the company should contact the Free Arts Program Staff. The Volunteer Coordinator will then send out a Corporate Free Arts Day Participation Form to the company representative requesting participation in an event. Each volunteer in the corporate group will complete a brief volunteer application to be faxed or emailed to the Volunteer Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the event. On the day of the event the corporate volunteers will participate in a corporate volunteer orientation and training to learn tips and techniques for communicating with and supporting the children Free Arts serves.
 
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Teniqua Broughton, Program Director, at 602.258.8100 ext 23 or email tbroughton@freeartsaz.org.

Age Requirement: minimum 19

Time Commitment: 3-6 hours 

Professional Artist Series

Professional Artist Series consist of in-depth programs ranging from 3-10 sessions led by commissioned professional teaching artists. Youth have the opportunity to work intimately with an artist to learn a variety of art forms. The programs usually culminate in a performance or exhibit where youth can showcase their work. Volunteers sign up to assist the youth and the artist throughout this creative series. This time spent together allows youth to develop an understanding of the art form, the chance to connect with positive adult role models, and to peek into the life of a professional artist. 

Age Requirement: minimum 19, sometimes 21

Time Commitment: 1-3 hours per workshop for 3-10 workshops; volunteers are required attend every workshop in one series. 

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Teniqua Broughton, Director of Programs, at 602.258.8100 ext 23 or email tbroughton@freeartsaz.org

Multicultural Arts Camp Series

Free Arts of Arizona’s Multicultural Arts Camp Series allows a diverse group of children and teens to explore various art forms alongside professional teaching artists, experienced staff and caring volunteers in a day camp environment. The youth at MAC Camp discover and express their inner talents while overcoming barriers, opening their minds and building bridges to others and the world around them.

Volunteers at camp play an integral role in helping youth to have a positive camp experience. Volunteers will be assigned to a group of youth and other volunteers and together these groups will rotate through a variety of multicultural arts workshops led by professional teaching artists. Past workshops have included Spoken Word Poetry, Asian Arts, Chicano Arts, World Arts, Puppetry, Latin Dance, World Music, and Creative Movement.
 
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Teniqua Broughton, Program Director, at 602.258.8100 ext 23 or email tbroughton@freeartsaz.org.

Age Requirement: minimum 16

Time Commitment: minimum of 3 days within one week of camp; volunteers spend 6 hours at camp each day. 

Special Events

On special occasions we need volunteer assistance to help with special events, fundraisers, and external exhibitions. There is no regular schedule for these opportunities and locations include sites throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Office Volunteers

Help is always appreciated at the Free Arts office: answering the phones, photocopying materials and other tasks as needed. Office Volunteers may also opt to work in the Art Room, where they can assist in organizing and putting away supplies, as well as assembling materials for art projects. Office Volunteers are only required to attend volunteer orientation and complete a volunteer application packet.

Age Requirement: minimum 16

Time Commitment: times are flexible, but we prefer that Office Volunteers commit to a weekly schedule of at least two hours per week during regular business hours.

Internships

From both the arts community and the health and human services sector, interns will expand their knowledge and develop experience by collaborating with the diverse facets of our organization. Through various department duties, committee work, and special projects, interns will accomplish their learning objectives in a creative and energetic environment.

Age Requirement: minimum 19

Time Committment: Differs by internship. To see our open Internships, please click here.

Are you interested in volunteering in one of these capacities? Sign up for a volunteer orientation, learn how to volunteer in our programs and make a difference in the lives of Arizona's youth! Or you may call the Free Arts office at 602-258-8100 for more information about volunteering or upcoming events.

 

103 West Highland Avenue, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Phone: 602-258-8100 Fax: 602-258-1881 info@freeartsaz.org
All Images and Text © Copyright 2008 Free Arts of Arizona