Wolverhampton Art Gallery is proudly celebrating the five-year anniversary of its volunteer programme, an initiative that has become a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life, thanks to the dedication of its team, strong community partnerships, and the passion of its volunteers.

Since its launch, the programme has welcomed individuals from all walks of life, offering meaningful opportunities to engage with the arts, develop new skills, and build confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Wolverhampton Arts and Culture service has 48 regular volunteers, who collectively contributed an impressive 12,936 hours of their time over the past 12 months.

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, they help bring our exhibitions and events to life by creating a welcoming environment for visitors and sharing in the stories behind the art.

“We’re excited to welcome new faces and help them grow their skills while being part of something truly inspiring.”

Melaine Addis, Senior Operations Officer said: “Our volunteers bring warmth, enthusiasm, and a sense of community to everything we do. Their stories are inspiring, and their impact is immeasurable.

“The oldest volunteer is 81 years old and our youngest 18. Volunteering offers a rewarding way to engage with the vibrant arts and culture community across Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Bantock House Museum. There are many reasons people join us for volunteering; we have young people who want to gain experience in the creative sector, retired people who would like something new to do and some of our volunteers are looking for work-based experience and training to help them into work.”

The gallery works closely with local organisations to ensure the programme is accessible to all, supporting over a third of the volunteer team with additional access needs. Volunteers are encouraged every step of the way, and many have gone on to further education, employment, or simply found a renewed sense of purpose through their involvement.

From welcoming visitors and supporting exhibitions to assisting with workshops and events, volunteers play a vital role in shaping the gallery’s cultural offering. Their contributions have not only enriched the visitor experience but also transformed their own lives.

Our volunteer stories highlight the programme’s impact:

John started working as a volunteer and now works casually as a visitor assistant as well as continuing as a volunteer - “Volunteering gets me out of the house and keeps me busy. I work with nice people and have made some new friends. I think it gives me more confidence and has helped show me I am more capable than I believed. I really enjoy helping in the shop.”

Maya started working as a volunteer in 2024 and has grown in confidence over the past 12 months, regularly helping with events in the gallery - “I like to focus on my job and keep myself busy. I help customers find where things are in the art gallery. It gives me more confidence, the people that I work with are nice and the staff I work with are kind and have respect, I can talk to them if I have any problems. I enjoyed it so much that I now go in four days a week instead of two.”

Kieran first came to the gallery as a work placement for Walsall College’s SEND students and stayed on after it was completed - “I do enjoy just doing my job and helping people around the gallery, helping out with craft club and showing new volunteers around gives me the confidence to have a go at things and learn new skills that I never knew were there.”

As the gallery celebrates this milestone, it also looks ahead with excitement, continuing to build partnerships, support volunteers, and welcome new faces into its creative community.

Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of four hours per week, with flexible scheduling available to suit individual availability, training will also be provided.

If you’re interested in becoming a part of Wolverhampton’s cultural story, join the team on Saturday, June 7, from 11am to 3pm, and see where volunteering could take you.

The volunteer team at Wolverhampton Art Gallery are finalists in the BID Excellence Awards for Team of the Year. The winning team will be announced on Thursday, July 10.

For more information, please visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk or email art.gallery@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

A short film featuring our current volunteers is also available to view, offering insight into the experience and the rewarding opportunities available through the programme: https://youtu.be/bjV0ZZQeDq4?si=waiMmeZEQEEvkXew.