Volunteer

Become a Volunteer Guide

Volunteers play an essential role in engaging our audiences and supporting staff by working behind-the-scenes. Volunteering your time enables you to share your passion and enthusiasm for art, while knowing that you are helping to enrich our community. No previous knowledge of Aboriginal art is necessary.

Volunteer guides act as the face of the museum. They have more responsibility than docents, though giving tours is a part of the role. They greet and orient visitors upon arrival, monitor and create reservations, process gift shop sales to visitors, sell memberships to visitors, offer gallery activities for visitors with children, deliver 20-30 minute tours of the current exhibitions, answer the phone, and ensure the visitor experience is as terrific as possible. They also help to maintain a positive appearance in the gift shop and act as ambassadors for Kluge-Ruhe in their community.

  • Requirements:
    • Sign up for a minimum of (2) three-hour shifts per month.
    • Give one 20-30 minute tour of the current exhibitions during each shift. 
    • Read or watch something new each month about Aboriginal art and culture (This may be done during your volunteer shift).
    • Attend volunteer training sessions.
    • Stay up to date on, and attend, Kluge-Ruhe programs.

Other ways to help

Another, less formal way you can help Kluge-Ruhe is to be an ambassador for us. You can do this by:

If you are doing all of this, let us know! We would love to thank you for your support.

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia acknowledges the Monacan Nation, the traditional owners of the land and waters upon which it stands.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this website contains the names and images of deceased people.