Volunteer
A group of people sitting around a table in a Museum gallery, working collaboratively on a research project.
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. The minimum age to do work experience at the museum is 16 years old, and we offer one-week placements usually in early July of each year.
Our work experience placements for this academic year are now full.
We will re-open our expressions of interest form for work experience placements in autumn 2025 ready for the new school year.
YOUNG VOLUNTEERS
The Young Volunteers programme, is a pilot project working in partnership with Teesdale School and Sixth Form. Through working in co-production with the students and school, we aim to provide high-quality volunteering experiences, increase levels of connection and wellbeing and strengthen our relationship with Teesdale School and Sixth Form.
The project has been generously funded by Arts Council England, the Association of Independent Museums and DCMS.
You can hear from the Young Volunteers about their experiences by clicking through to read their blogs here:
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.
Meet Event Volunteer and Activator, Sue
My interest in The Bowes Museum began following a visit to the Winter Market in December 2023. Due to inclement weather on this particular day, the outside stalls were moved inside. I was amazed at how beautiful and interesting the museum was and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Market, I found myself browsing the
Meet Conservation Volunteer, Debbie
Working in Preventive Conservation as a Volunteer I’m part of a small group of volunteers who undertake preventive conservation at the museum, under the direction of Joe Kinsey, the Collections Coordinator. We carry out a varied programme of activities specifically targeted at maintenance and preserving the museum’s extensive collection. I started in October and so
Meet Event Volunteer, Beverley
I was originally born in Darlington and at age 9 I moved to the South of England with my parents. After many happy years, in 2024 I made the decision to return to this area and start a new chapter of my life. As a child I often visited the museum with both my parents
Meet our Volunteer Guides
What is it like being a guide at The Bowes Museum? It’s stimulating, uplifting and fun! Our twenty guides come from a wide variety of backgrounds and they bring their different skills, talents and interests to their talks and tours. If you enjoy meeting and talking with people and want to find out more about
Young Volunteers: Joe
I have been visiting The Bowes Museum for as long as I can remember, seeing many different changes and exhibitions, yet I have always remained intrigued about how these came to be and how the Museum really works behind the scenes. So, when the chance to volunteer here came to me, I jumped at the
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 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
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