NOMA appreciates your interest in becoming a volunteer at our organization. All applicants must be a minimum of 16 years of age and a junior or senior in high school. All applicants must fill out this application to be considered for a volunteer position. NOMA believes in a diverse, inclusive and equitable volunteer program, whatever the gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, disability or education of the volunteer. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and seek to ensure that all volunteers are valued and heard and intend to foster a culture of open mindedness, inclusiveness and compassion.Once an application is received, applicants will be interviewed.

Once accepted into the volunteer program, volunteers will receive training appropriate for the position they will hold, and will be required to make a commitment to volunteer a minimum of 40 hours during a one year period. Volunteers are requested to notify the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible if they will miss their scheduled shift. While the museum is flexible with respect to illness, vacations, and student call offs due to school schedules, NOMA reserves the right to dismiss a volunteer who accumulates more than 3 unexcused absences.

Volunteers are expected to dress in a manner that reflects the professional image of NOMA. Proper appearance and cleanliness are essential.

Volunteer Opportunities and Hours

The museum is closed on Mondays and open from 10 am to 5 pm the remainder of the week. Volunteers are required to work either a morning or afternoon shift. Morning shifts are generally 10 am–2 pm and afternoon shifts are 2–5 pm.

Coat Check

This position requires the volunteer to check and ticket visitors’ back packs, suitcases, and other personal items and return them. The volunteer who mans this position should be able to assist the visitor by providing directions to various exhibits, the café, the gift shop, etc. Volunteers are also expected to answer general visitor questions such as where to catch the streetcar, the location of nearby restaurants, and the location of attractions in City Park.

Wayfinders

From time to time volunteers are needed for large exhibits to help direct visitors and to answer their questions. Wayfinders should be able to roam the exhibit and the hallway for a period of 3–4 hours.

NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden

In 2022 the Besthoff Sculpture Garden was voted the number one sculpture garden in the country by USA Today’s 10Best. The garden is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm. From April through September the Garden is open from 10 am to 6 pm. Volunteers are generally required to work either a morning or afternoon shift. Morning shifts generally begin at 10 am and end at 2 pm. Afternoon shifts are either 2–5 pm or 2–6 pm (depending on the season). Volunteers in the Garden work in air-conditioned spaces, either in the entrance office or the Sculpture Garden Pavilion.

Besthoff Sculpture Garden Entrance Office

Because the Besthoff Sculpture Garden does not charge an admission fee, volunteers who work in the entrance office are asked to click in the number of visitors entering the garden and prepare a short report on visitor attendance at the end of each shift. Office volunteers should familiarize themselves as to the location of the sculptures, and be willing to sell bottled water to the visitors and keep track of those sales.

Besthoff Sculpture Garden Pavilion

Volunteers in the Pavilion must be able to engage with the visitors, ensure that the art in that space is not touched, and be able to answer questions as to the location of other sculptures in the garden, rest rooms, etc.

Ambassadors in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden

From time to time Ambassadors are needed in the garden to help direct visitors to certain sculptures and to answer their general questions. Ambassadors should be able to roam the garden for a 3-4 hour period of time.

Gardeners

There is no experience necessary to be a gardener in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. The hours are flexible, but generally you should be able to volunteer from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Gardeners’ duties can include such tasks as weeding, trimming, mulching and raking in the beautiful surroundings of the garden.

School or Corporate Volunteer Groups

NOMA has opportunities for groups to participate in events held throughout the year which includes fundraising events, the NOMA Egg Hunt and Family Festival, Japan Fest, First Fridays, and other events as they occur. High school groups are required to bring a chaperone for the event. Please fill in the Group Application at the end of this form.