Volunteer Spotlight: Volunteer Coordinator, Dee
More than 100 volunteers work at Brighton Festival each year. A volunteer herself, Dee helped to co-ordinate it all. She talked to us about what it’s like to work behind the scenes and how she fit her role around her studies.
What does your role involve?
This year I am working with the Volunteer Coordination Manager as a Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer (a bit of a mouthful!). I am in the office one-two days a week, helping with… anything I can help with really! From filing paperwork and updating our volunteer database to answering queries and getting in touch with the Festival volunteers.
Why did you want to volunteer?
I love my city, and I love the arts. I have worked in the sector for a number of years now. This year I happened to have a little more spare time on my hands and thought it would be a missed opportunity not to apply. Besides, this year I have made a promise to try as many new things as possible, and volunteering for the Brighton Festival was on my list!
How have you found the experience of volunteering for Brighton Festival?
It’s fun! The team is just amazing - such lovely people, all of them. It is a pleasure to work with them and see behind-the-scenes of the Festival from their perspective.
As a student has it been easy to fit around your studies?
I am in the final stages of my second MA (Art History and Museum Curating at the University of Sussex). While things are getting a little intense now and the dissertation is looming, I found it rewarding to dedicate what is really just a small part of my week to working with the Festival team, learning new things and widening my experience.
What has been the most satisfying part of your role?
If at the end of my day in the office, I have made Catherine's (our Volunteer Coordination Manager) work even a tiny bit easier, I am happy.
What's been the highlight of your volunteering?
The best part is the Festival itself. This year it has been an absolute blast - so many great shows, we are really spoilt for choice. And of course the Volunteer Welcome Event, which we organised for the volunteers before the Festival had started, was a treat! It was such fun meeting everyone and the annual Brighton Dome quiz at the end of the night was a total success!
To find out more about volunteering year-round for Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival email [javascript protected email address]
