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An important way some donors have sustained our mission is by arranging for the Museum in their estate plans. Legacy giving can provide for your loved ones while also supporting the work of preserving the history and art of Gaston County. 

Gaston County Museum offers internships throughout the year in Museum Education, Collections, and Curation. For more information and to apply choose from the following: 

Education Internship Description 

Curatorial Internship Description

Collections Internship Description

Collections:

Volunteer Job Title: Collections Volunteer

Reports to: Collections Manager, Shannon White

Job Location: Mary Anne Nelson Center (Museum’s Collection and Archives Facility)

Time Commitment: Once a week for 2-3 hours

Description:

The Gaston County Museum’s collection department is responsible for the oversight, management and tracking of all collections at the museum, both permanent and on loan. We currently have approximately 83,000 objects in the collection. We also accept several new acquisitions every year in order to tell a comprehensive story of all the people in Gaston County.

Collections volunteers are essential in managing these collections. Projects can include inventory of collections, cataloging of collections, filling out condition report worksheets, photographing collections, researching provenance and creator information, database cleanup and standardization as well as management of the paper records. Collection volunteers will also assist in museum gallery maintenance.

Qualifications: Well organized, conscientious, detail oriented, and comfortable working independently.

Curatorial:

Volunteer Job Title: Curatorial Volunteer

Reports to:  Curator, Alicyn Wiedrich

Job Location: Gaston County Museum of Art and History

Time Commitment: As needed basis

Description:

The Gaston County Museum’s curatorial department is responsible for the creation and installation of exhibitions. Within the Museum, there are two short-term temporary gallery spaces that rotate exhibits every six months and one long-term temporary that changes exhibit every year and a half. Through these exhibits, the stories of Gaston County and its residents are told.

Curatorial volunteers are essential in assisting in the changing of exhibits, assisting with the building of exhibit pieces, woodworking, painting walls, installation exhibit pieces under the supervision of the Curator, and organizing and cleaning stands and plexiglass uses in gallery spaces.

This position does not have regular hours but is needed on an on-call basis.

Qualifications: Able to lift heavy objects (50+ pounds) and stand for long periods of time, comfortable climbing ladders and using tools (including power tools).

Education:

Volunteer Job Title: Education Volunteer

Reports to: Education Manager, Alex Brooks or Programs Assistant, Casey Landolf

Job Location: Location varies depending on the program

Time Commitment: Time commitment depends on how many programs are scheduled.

School Tours and Programming: Weekday mornings as needed

Public events: Weekends and evenings as needed

Description:

The Gaston County Museum’s Education Department is responsible for the Museum’s educational offerings and community outreach. Throughout the year, the Museum coordinates with local schoolteachers and educators, with the Museum’s programming being free for all Gaston County Public Schools. The Department aims to provide quality educational opportunities and community events for the region that promote the learning of county and regional history and culture.

The Education Volunteer assists the Museum’s Education Manager or Programs Assistant with Museum programs and events. Volunteers can assist with school programs, museum tours, and community events organized by the Museum and community events the Museum participates in. Volunteers may create exhibit-based activities for Museum visitor use, such as scavenger hunts or exhibit related activities that are made available to visitors at the front desk.

Qualifications: Adaptability, creativity, public speaking, time management, well organized.

Front of House:

Job Title: Front of House Volunteer

Reports to: Education Manager, Alex Brooks or Programs Assistant, Casey Landolf

Job Location: Gaston County Museum of Art and History

Time Commitment: Saturdays, 11am-4pm

Description:

The Front of House Volunteer provides customer service at the Museum’s front desk and assists in the running of the gift shop. This position plays a crucial role in the public’s first impression of the Museum.

The Front of House Volunteer assists with overseeing the front desk, providing exceptional customer service to all museum visitors. Typical duties include greeting visitors and answering questions in person and over the phone, operating the gift shop cash register, and inventorying gift shop items.

Qualifications: Customer service, comfortable working independently, detail oriented.


Interested in becoming a volunteer? Email Casey Landolf, Programs Coordinator, at Casey.Landolf@gastongov.com for our volunteer application. Teens are encouraged to apply but will have different volunteer roles available to them.

Openings and guidelines for applying to the Gaston County Museum are listed on the Gaston County website, here.

The Museum’s Board of Trustees is a 501c3 made up of community members passionate about promoting the art and history of Gaston County. Individuals interested in becoming a larger part of the Gaston County Museum community should contact Director, Ali Pizza at Alexandrea.Pizza@gastongov.com