Volunteer in Art Projects in Ireland | Volunteering Solutions

Overview

Giving a little boost to our creative cells is extremely important and what can be better than polishing your artistic skills as a volunteer?

In Ireland, we collaborate with community arts projects including Arts centers, Arts Festivals and museums which welcome international volunteers to support their work all year round.

Arts centers present a range of visual arts exhibitions in their gallery space, they also create opportunities for children, young people and adults to engage with high standard arts programmes through creative workshops and classes. Arts festivals in Ireland come in all shapes and sizes and contribute to making Ireland a cultural center for the arts. Festivals present and produce programmes across theater, music, film screenings, visual arts, opera, street spectacle, dance etc.

Sample Placement Profile : Clonmel Junction Festival

Arts festivals in Ireland come in all shapes and sizes and contribute to make Ireland a cultural center for the arts. The festival brings the best in live music, theatre, street performance, comedy, visual art, food events and much more to Clonmel and the surrounding region. It features a diversity of Irish and international artists. What makes the festival very special is that it is rooted in the community with “participation” programmes, whereby artists work alongside local schools and community groups to produce work that appear at the festival. The festival takes place the first week of July and is in need of motivated volunteers all throughout the year, particularly during the few months preceding the festival and during the event itself. The festival team also runs a smaller festival early March which organises music concerts by women composers around International Women’s Day.

The main role of the volunteers is to assist project staff in organising, promoting and running the festival. Task can be varied and may include:

Marketing -
- Distribution of material
- Social media- merchandising
Administration assistance
- Assisting the manager and director in carrying out all admin tasks
Hospitality- Artist Liaison
-Welcome artists
-Prepare artist packs
Box office
-Staffing temporary box office daily (from June 6th)
-Giving information about shows/events
-Selling tickets to events
Stewarding
-Welcoming public to venues
-Ticket collection
-Set up and tidying down
Production
-Supporting production staff
-Installation and take down of production materials
From September to December: the volunteer work mainly involves strategic/development work

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteers usually work from Mondays to Fridays, for about 5 to 7 hours each day. the work schedule might vary. Weekends are generally free for the volunteers to explore and enjoy on their own.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers can get involved in a wide variety of activities from carrying out administrative and marketing tasks to organising events and helping facilitating workshops.

Volunteers can help in several areas such as :

Assisting in art workshops facilitation
Providing administrative support
Assisting in organising events with partner organisations
Supporting social media activities
Supporting marketing and promotion campaigns
Assist project staff in running, organising and promoting art festivals

Project Requirement

Volunteers are required to be adaptable, flexible people. Participants must be over 18 when the project starts. Volunteers joining the project should have at least an intermediate level of spoken English (B1/B2). Participants will join a group of workers and local volunteers composed of people from different backgrounds and different age groups. Volunteers need to be able to partake in teamwork, but personal motivation, maturity and responsibility are also important. Volunteers joining the project should provide a criminal background check. A video call interview may be done to check participants suitability.

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Living

Airport Transfers

Participants are picked up by a driver who will be waiting with a sign displaying the participants’ name. Participants are transferred to a hostel accommodation located in Cork city center.

Volunteers who arrive at a different airport (Dublin, Shannon, Kerry, Waterford) need to make their own way to Cork. It is very easy to join Cork city from Dublin airport as there are buses from just outside the arrival terminal in Dublin that go directly to Cork city center (aircoach.ie). Participants are picked up from their point of entry in Cork (bus station or train station).

Orientation

On the morning of the second day, participants are met by the coordinating staff at the hostel reception and will walk to the Cork Volunteer Centre where the orientation workshop takes place.

The orientation workshop lasts approximately 3.5h and includes the following topics:

Sharing and discussing fears and expectations
Exploring motivations
Skills and attitudes to make the programme a success
Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders(sender/host/volunteer)
Lines of communication
Potential challenges
Introduction to Irish culture
Cultural adaptation, culture shock and inter-cultural
competences
Cultural adaptation in the Irish context
Practical tips for a successful voluntary service
Health issues
Safety and security, risk mitigation
Overview of what to do during free time

After the orientation workshop and their lunch, participants take part in a 2h walking tour of Cork City. During the tour, they are provided with practical advice, cultural and historical information.
At the end of the tour, participants are brought to the bus or train station and go to their project location. In some cases, depending on the location and availability of project mentor, the transfer could be done the following morning.

Accommodation & Meals

On arrival in Cork, volunteers are provided accommodation at a hostel in the city center. While on the project, volunteers will live in local host family accommodation allowing you to get a real sense of life in an Irish family and community. Meals will be provided along with a packed lunch as needed. Host families are based within walking distance of the project or near a public transport that allows the volunteer to reach the project easily.

The host family provides breakfast (cereals or toasts, hot drink etc.), pack lunch (sandwiches, fruit etc.) and hot dinner in the evening (e.g. pasta, sausages, potatoes, pizza etc.). It is possible to cater for vegetarians (this information is subject to change, please check with us).

Explore During Free Time

Volunteers will have the weekends to explore. There is always something happening in Clonmel, with frequent theatre, concerts, live music, art exhibitions, and festivals.

During your free time, volunteers can discover the countryside around Clonmel, Tipperary region. They can visit famous attractions such as the Rock of Cashel Castle and Cahir Castle located in nearby towns. They can also discover cities such as Kilkenny, Cork or Dublin.

Dates

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

September

October

November

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
3 Weeks	$1745
4 Weeks	$1975
5 Weeks	$2245
6 Weeks	$2495
7 Weeks	$2775
8 Weeks	$3075
Extra Week	$445

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

Inclusions

Pre-departure Information guide and support
Pickup in Cork
First night in hostel in Cork City
Transfer to Project
All Meals except lunch on arrival day
Accommodation in Host Family or at Project
Orientation with local staff
Ongoing support from project mentor
Local staff support and coordination

Not included

Flights
Lunch on arrival day
Return airport transfer (local team can assist with this)
Visa Fee
Vaccinations
Medical & Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses

FAQ's

Application and Program Details

When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Ireland?: As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is strongly recommended to apply for the program and reserve your spot in the program well in advance. You can book your spot in the program by filling an online form and pay the application fee.

Once you complete your application, your individual 'My Account' will be active in which you will receive your placement confirmation after which you can pay the program fees. You can pay the program fees later as well in installments, but 45 days before the program starts.
I haven’t traveled or volunteered abroad before. Can I still be a part of VolSol?: Yes, most definitely you can as we believe every participant brings something new to the project. If you do not have previous experience, we offer you the opportunity to have a great start with us. We make international volunteering easy – not only are our Volunteer Abroad opportunities rooted in offering you extensive support, but they are also very affordable.
What happens after the end of the Program?: Participants can leave either on their last Saturday or Sunday. Project mentors provide them with information on how to reach the airport. The airports are well connected by public transport it is something participant find easy to do.
How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be active. You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’.
Does VolSol provide with a reference or a certificate after program completion?: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the programs?: You must be respectful of other cultures

You must be tolerant towards others and respect the differences

You must welcome teamwork but also be able to work alone

You must be at least 18; if you are underage you need to come with a permission from your parents

You have to be a proactive person, we welcome volunteers with initiative and creativity

You must have at least an Intermediate level of English
How do I get to the program location?: After the orientation workshop and the lunch, participants take part in a 2h walking tour of Cork City. During the tour, they are provided with practical advice, cultural and historical information.

At the end of the tour, participants are brought to the bus or train station and go to their project location. In some cases, depending on the location and availability of project mentor, the transfer could be done the following morning.
Can I volunteer as part of a group?: Yes, you are welcome to take part in the Programs in Ireland as part of a group. We welcome families, friends, high school students, college/university and corporate groups to volunteer in Ireland programs together.
Why Volunteer in Ireland?: Ireland is a wonderful country; it is safe, friendly, rich in heritage, history, and culture. From vibrant, exciting cities to the spectacular countryside – it’s a magical place to visit. It’s also a wonderful place to stay and immerse yourself. The best part of an experience in Ireland is probably connecting with local people. Visitors find Irish people friendly, welcoming and very supportive.

There is in Ireland a strong sense of community with many initiatives taking place at local level. We have selected very specific community-based projects where participants can have an authentic and worthwhile experience. If you are keen to learn and experience something new, then there can be nothing better than this!

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringSolutions/"; target="_blank">join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or https://www.facebook.com/groups/volunteeringsolutions/"; target="_blank">Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/meet-a-volunteer"; target="_blank">Meet a Volunteer page on our website.

Flights and Visa

Can I Know More About The Flights & Visa?: Ireland is well connected with other major cities in Europe as well as with direct connections to some cities in North America. Participants need to arrive at Cork Airport. You can also arrive at Dublin and take a coach transfer to Cork city.

It is the participant's responsibility to make sure that you have checked the visa requirements before traveling to Ireland. Citizens of most European countries and USA/Canada do not require a visa for travel to Ireland to stay up to a certain period. You can check with us for more details once you’ve applied for the programs.

Health and Safety

What vaccinations will I need?: Some routine vaccines like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus are required before traveling to Ireland. You can https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/ireland"; target="_blank">check the CDC List of vaccines and consult your doctor for any specific medication that you might require.