Volunteering with Alternator allows you to make a contribution to the local arts community, gain practical experience in a professional gallery and network with artists. Help is needed with:
 
Governance
  •  Serve on the board of directors, the events committee or the media arts committee (one to two hours per month)
 
Exhibition
  •  Installation: Assist with set up and take down (every six weeks)
  •  Gallery preparation: Assist with painting and patching walls (every six weeks)
  •  Documentation: digitally photograph exhibitions (every six weeks)
  •  Archiving: sort and catalogue documentation (every six weeks)
 
Hospitality
  •  Organize food and beverages for gallery events (two hours every six weeks)
 
Administration
  •  Postings: update the bulletin board (one hour per month)
  •  Mail outs: stuff envelopes (one hour every six weeks)
  •  Publicity: distribute exhibition posters (one hour every six weeks)
  •  Graphic design: create posters, brochures and invitations using InDesign
  •  Newsletter: submit articles, assist with editing and layout
  •  Clerical assistance: update membership lists (one hour per month)
 
Fundraising
  •  Wearable Art Gala: organizing committee, locating sponsors, assisting with event set up and take down, food and beverage (varying time commitments possible)
 
If you would like to volunteer, please contact us by e-mail, telephone or in person.

The Alternator offers practicum experience to students at UBC Okanagan. One position is designated for fourth-year credit, but up to three additional non-credit practicum positions are open to students willing to make an ongoing commitment.
 
Here's what a previous student has said about experience at the Alternator: "The experience has been invaluable, both to my career goals and also to my art practice... The staff at the Alternator have taken the time and care to make my experiences here positive."
-- Katherine Pickering, former practicum student now in the MFA program at Concordia University

Gallery Assistant
 
DEADLINE: August 11, 2008
 
The Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art is a non-profit artist-run centre in Kelowna, BC. Our mandate is to support the development of innovative contemporary work by local, national and international emerging and mid-career artists. The Alternator operates three exhibition spaces, hosts an artist-in-residency program and operates a media arts production centre.
 
Working with the director the gallery assistant will perform a range of exhibition and administration duties. The preferred applicant will have experience in exhibition installation, graphic design and familiarity with artist-run centres. He/she is a highly responsible team player with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and is able to demonstrate personal initiative and leadership within a collective environment.
 
Major responsibilities include: graphic design, photo documentation, preparatory work and supporting the Alternator's administrative activities.
 
Assets include:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- A familiarity with the Mac environment, including some or all of the following: Word, Excel, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Final Cut Pro
- Physical ability and knowledge to perform preparatory and installation work.
- Knowledge of basic website structure.

 
Remuneration: $13 per hour / 12 hours per week
Anticipated start date: August 5, 2008

 
Applicants should submit a cover letter with current resume to dir@alternatorgallery.com. Please write Hiring Committee in the subject line. As well, letters of support from two referees should be forwarded directly by referees to dir@alternatorgallery.com by July 28, 2008 with Hiring Committee - Letter of Support in the subject line. For more information, call the Alternator Gallery at (250) 868-2298.