Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts

IAF Volunteers

Iowa Arts Festival Volunteer Positions

****All volunteers should report to the Volunteer Check In Booth located at in front of the Pedestrian Plaza at Washington & Dubuque Streets 10 minutes prior to your shift starting. You will receive your FREE volunteer t-shirt and more detailed information about where you should report to and what tasks you will help with. After your shift is done, please return to the booth to check out.

ARTIST COORDINATOR -- Serves as HOST to the artists. Assists with artist check-in Friday evening and Saturday morning. Directs artists to their booth. Distributes information as people check-in. Provides direction, guidance and support as needed.

ARTIST HELPERS (Supervised by Artist Coordinator) -- Primary responsibility is to offer to cover booths so artists can take a break. First shift volunteers on Saturday will offer to help the artists carry items and set-up their booths and on Sunday, will offer help to open up their booths. Last shift volunteers on Saturday will offer to help artists close-down their booths for the night and on Sunday will offer to help take down artists' booths and offer help carrying to cars.

CHILDREN'S DAY GENERAL MANAGER -- Oversee the set-up of all exhibits and tables during Children's Day on Sunday. Make sure that supplies are at appropriate tables. Make sure that volunteers are at appropriate tables. Throughout the day, check with exhibitors to make sure they have supplies, water, etc.

CHILDREN'S DAY BOOTH ASSISTANTS (Supervised by Children's Day General Manager) -- Assist in the various activity booths, e.g., face painting, art projects, handing out prizes, etc. Must like working with kids and helping kids do art projects. First shift volunteers assist with set-up. Last shift volunteers stay to assist with tear-down and clean-up.

CHILDREN'S DAY GENERAL ASSISTANCE (Supervised by Children's Day General Manager) -- Walk the Children's Day Booths and family stage area, offering help where needed, making sure the booths have everything they need. Help musicians load and unload equipment from the stage. First shift volunteers help with set-up. Second shift volunteers are asked to stay to help with and clean-up.

CHILDREN'S DAY SET-UP/CLEAN-UP (Supervised by Children's Day General Manager) -- Assist with set-up and tear-down of 10-15 activity booths. Includes moving and setting up tables and chairs. Last shift volunteers are asked to stay until tear-down and clean-up are complete.

FOOD VENDOR COORDINATOR -- Assist with set-up of food vendors, helping them find the appropriate location for set-up and assisting with general directions and set-up. Check with food vendors during the event to make sure things are going smoothly and assist as needed. Assist with tear-down of the booths at the end of the event.

GLOBAL VILLAGE GENERAL MANAGER -- Confirm arrangements for the sponsor of each display. Confirm supplies needed for each display. Confirm donation/receipt of supplies. Determine location of each country display for Global Village. Provide assistants to help with setup as needed. Work with assistants to distribute supplies as needed during the festival. Periodically check with sponsors and volunteers to make sure things are working smoothly at each booth.

GLOBAL VILLAGE GENERAL ASSISTANTS (Supervised by Global Village General Manager) -- Walk the village and family stage area, offering help where needed, making sure the booths have everything they need. Help musicians load and unload equipment from the stage. First shift assists with set-up. Last shift assists with tear-down/clean-up.

GLOBAL VILLAGE REGISTRATION BOOTH (Supervised by Global Village General Manager) -- Staff the booth, greet visitors. Give children packets needed to participate in Global Village. First shift volunteers assists with set-up if necessary. Last shift volunteers assists with tear-down/clean-up. Direct people as needed.

GLOBAL VILLAGE BOOTH ASSISTANTS (Supervised by Global Village General Manager) -- You will be assigned to assist with activities in a country booth - 6 booths in all. You will receive specific training once you have been assigned to a booth. First shift helps with set-up. Last shift helps with tear down.

GLOBAL VILLAGE SET-UP/TEAR-DOWN (Supervised by Global Village General Manager) -- First shift volunteers will help set-up 10-15 activity booths. Includes some lifting and carrying of tables and chairs. Last shift volunteers will help tear down activity booths and clean-up area.

MAIN STAGE GENERAL MANAGER -- Works under the supervision of the IAF Director and Operations Coordinator. Supervises all main stage setup. Assists bands as needed with special arrangements.

MERCHANDISE BOOTH VOLUNTEERS -- Volunteers will be selling T-shirts and other festival merchandise. First shift volunteers will set up the booth, display merchandise, make sure there is adequate change on hand, etc. Last shift volunteers will pack up for the night and help take down and haul to storage on the last night of the festival. Note: there will be a festival staff member in the booth at all times to answer questions and provide assistance.

MAIN STAGE SECURITY (Supervised by Main Stage General Manager) -- Primary duty is to keep the public away from the back stage area and off the stage. There are barricades in place behind the stage to assist with this. Assist musicians with whatever they may need, e.g., fetching water, carrying equipment, etc. Last shift volunteers on Saturday are asked to stay to help with tear-down.

SECURITY VOLUNTEERS (Supervised by Festival General Manager) -- Walk the festival grounds, checking on all barricades to make sure they remain in the closed position. You will be given a map showing where barricades are located. Walk the festival making sure everything is going smoothly. Report any problems or issues to the staff member on duty in the merchandise booth. The Arts Fest includes a vendor area, artist booths, Global Village and Children's Day, and roughly covers Iowa Ave from Linn St to Capitol St, Washington Street from Linn St to Capitol St, and the Ped Plaza from Linn St to the Sheraton Hotel. Last shift volunteers on Sunday assist with festival tear-down and clean-up.

TRANSPORTATION/HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR -- Coordinate drivers and vehicles for pick-up and drop-off of live acts. Purchase/coordinate catering needs and food requests for live acts to be placed in the hospitality tent. Purchase/coordinate other special requests as needed for live acts. Set up, restock and clean up catering food and items in hospitality tent throughout event.

SET-UP/TEAR-DOWN/CLEAN-UP VOLUNTEERS -- Assist with overall setup of vendors, Children's Day activities, etc. Assist with tear-down and clean-up on Sunday after the festival is over.

VIP DRIVER -- Must have current driver's license without restrictions. Responsible for picking up musicians from area airports and transporting them to the Sheraton Hotel. Responsible for returning musicians to the airport as needed. Hours will be determined a few days prior to the festival.

Click Here for Online Volunteer Application

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