PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
SAMbassadors greet and welcome museum visitors, helping them in locating activities and facilities throughout SAM's downtown location, assisting with way-finding, providing general information about the museum's art collection and exhibitions, and encouraging positive visitor interactions.
DEPARTMENT/LOCATION
Volunteer Programs/SAM downtown, SAM Collections & Installations Galleries
TIME COMMITMENT
Weekly or bi-weekly, 3-hr shifts for a minimum of one year
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Greet and welcome visitors to the museum galleries
- Answer questions and direct visitors throughout the museum
- Provide accurate information about facilities, museum programs and exhibitions
- Educate visitors about museum environment and etiquette
- Work cooperatively with on-site staff and other front-line volunteers
- Attend continuing education sessions
- Refer maintenance, safety or security concerns to appropriate staff as needed
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- Ability to provide excellent customer service to all museum visitors
- Ability to communicate professionally and effectively to visitors, staff, and volunteers
- Must be able to commit to a regular schedule (weekly or bi-weekly 3-hr long shifts) for a minimum of one year
- Ability to ask for help and accept supervision and evaluation of your work
- Abide by the Standards for Museum Volunteers as outlined in the SAM Volunteers Association (SAMVA) Volunteer Handbook
TRAINING PROVIDED
- Training sessions about the museum, safety and security procedures, customer service, etc. are required and provided by the museum
- General SAM Volunteer orientation is required and provided by the Volunteer Programs Department
- Participation in SAMVA Exhibition Information Training Sessions is required and provided by the museum
- Regular attendance at a minimum of four continuing education sessions is required; options include curator gallery talks, other training or adult education programs offered by SAM, library resources on collection and past education program recordings
- Participation in other continuing education sessions, study groups, book clubs, field trips and administrative meetings are available to all SAM volunteers, as desired
