Volunteer
WELCOME TO THE VOLUNTEER’S PAGE
This page will be updated with volunteer content including updates, activities and new opportunities as they arise. We are delighted by your curiosity to explore these pages and potential interest in joining the volunteering community.
There has never been a more exciting time to get involved
The Museum is currently going through an exciting period of transformation, with new volunteering opportunities opening up as we go.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
There is a exciting and varied range of volunteer roles available. Find out more about the roles available here.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
If you are interested in volunteering at the Museum, you can complete a Volunteer Expression of Interest form here.
Please send your completed form to volunteers@thebowesmuseum.org.uk
WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS
The Bowes Museum actively supports learning and we offer a limited number of work experience opportunities for students each year. We advise that you get in touch early in the academic year if enquiring about placements, as we receive many enquiries and can only support a few.
FROM THE BLOG
VISIT THE BLOGIf you would like to learn more and hear what it is really like to be a volunteer at The Bowes Museum, you can read the volunteers' blogs here.
Work Experience Diary: Abbie-Rebecca
I wanted to do my work experience at The Bowes Museum because museums, especially those with extensive art collections, greatly interest me. I aspire to pursue a career in this field, and I believed that gaining experience at The Bowes Museum would provide valuable insights into my future career. As a young volunteer at the
Work Experience Diary: Carys
When considering work experience, I always knew I’d like to go to The Bowes Museum. I’ve been visiting the Museum from a very young age and have always been fascinated by the vast amount of work that goes into the Museum and, to be able to say I helped contribute to that is rather motivating.
Meet Curiosity Activator, Lucy Readman
I started volunteering in October last year as a Swan Explainer during the conservation of the Silver Swan automaton. As a mature art student, I was interested in learning about the museum industry, conservation and art history. This initial volunteering experience certainly developed those interests. I became very knowledgeable about the unusual history of the
Meet Volunteer Guide, Ray Morris
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A GUIDE AT THE BOWES MUSEUM? It’s fantastic, fascinating and fun! The 20+ guides come from all sorts of backgrounds. Some were teachers and were used to standing up in front of people, some had little or no such experience, some have arts backgrounds, while, for others, it was simply
Meet Swan Explainer, Marilyn Elm
When an opportunity was offered to volunteer as a ‘Swan Explainer’ at The Bowes Museum, I welcomed the chance to be involved in a special conservation project involving the famous 18th century Silver Swan automaton. I first saw the Swan as a young girl on a school visit, when sixpence had to be paid to
Meet Library and Archives Volunteer, Rosie Bettison
I volunteer for the library and archives at The Bowes Museum, this role involves entering data on to the Museum’s online database called Adlib. This system is devised for the management of collections and archives. I am currently working mainly with John Bowes’ bills and receipts from the 1870s when he was living in Paris.
Meet Co-Production Volunteer, Amy Bainbridge
My volunteering journey began last September when my youngest child started school. After struggling to find a job which would fit within school hours, I decided to apply for a volunteer role which was advertised by The Bowes Museum. Thankfully I was successful in the application process, as volunteering has given me some amazing opportunities,
Meet Gardening Volunteer, Gillian Pryce-Taylor
I moved to Barnard Castle ten years ago after a lifetime, well more than forty years, in education. My husband and I joined The Friends of Bowes Museum shortly after we arrived; then, in August 2020, with the Museum grounds looking less than pristine (exacerbated by the Covid lockdown) a group from The Friends organised
Meet Curiosity Activator, Alex Stoakes
I have been a Curiosity Activator Volunteer at the Museum since early April, when the four new gallery spaces first opened. Although only a few weeks have passed, I have found introducing visitors to obscure objects, inspiring their creativity, encouraging exploration and learning alongside my fellow volunteers to be a thrilling and rewarding experience. After
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