Volunteering - Asian Art Museum

About Being an Asian Art Museum Volunteer

The museum relies on the enthusiasm, energy and commitment of more than 400 individuals — architecture guides, docents, storytellers, and frontline volunteers — to enhance the museum experience for visitors, bringing art and people together.

Become one of the valued frontline volunteers who bring the Asian Art Museum alive for visitors.

What Is a Frontline Volunteer?

Frontline volunteers help either at the information desk and coat check or in the Cha May Ching Museum Boutique. Information desk and coat check volunteers extend a friendly welcome when visitors first arrive and guide them to locations and activities of interest. Museum boutique volunteers provide excellent customer service, creating a great retail experience by helping visitors find merchandise that relates to artworks in the collection galleries and/or special exhibitions.

No previous experience is required and you don’t have to be familiar with or an expert in Asian art. Because the museum serves diverse audiences, frontline volunteers come from all Bay Area communities and all walks of life and backgrounds, from high-schoolers to retirees. Volunteering offers unique opportunities to:

Learn about Asian art and culture
Enjoy a vibrant and creative atmosphere
Meet new people and connect with the museum community
Explore the museum’s collection and special exhibitions
Support your favorite museum!
After you’ve had a chance to review the details below, please fill out our Volunteer Application to be considered and receive information about next steps. Feel free to contact [email protected] with any questions you may have prior to applying. We look forward to receiving your volunteer application!

Benefits:

In addition to learned experience, volunteers in good standing that have completed the threshold requirement for receiving benefits may receive the following:

The opportunity to learn more about the Asian Art Museum’s collection and special exhibitions
Unlimited free admission to the permanent collection and most special exhibitions
Invitations to programs, special tours, lectures, and exhibition previews
Access to the museum’s research library (by appointment)
Invitation to the annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration
Recognition for service milestones
20% discount at the Cha May Ching Museum Boutique
10% discount at Asian Box
20% discount on museum membership (must be an active volunteer at the time of purchase or renewal)
Additional volunteer opportunities around the museum, including opportunities to participate in project-based or one-time activities for volunteers
Opportunities to volunteer with others who have similar interests and to share your enjoyment and knowledge of the museum with visitors
Pride in representing a valued art museum to visitors from your community and from around the world

Expectations and Requirements

We expect frontline volunteers to regularly volunteer for at least one year from their start date and to volunteer a minimum of 96 hours annually, the equivalent of two four-hour shifts each month. A mandatory onboarding session is required before you may begin volunteering for the Asian Art Museum. All volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.

Primary volunteer assignments will be in support of the information desk, coat check, or in the Museum Boutique. In addition to primary assignments, there are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and ways to support the Asian Art Museum, including welcoming guests for public programs, getting creative with art activities in the Shriram Learning Center, administrative support, and more.

Some volunteer opportunities may require you to complete a threshold of core volunteer shifts at coat check or the boutique as a prerequisite for additional roles. Fill in the appropriate information for the volunteer area(s) in which you have an interest when filling out your application.

Expectations

You have a desire to make each visitor’s experience of the Asian Art Museum a memorable one
You have an outgoing, positive, enthusiastic attitude and are comfortable meeting and interacting with a wide variety of people
You will be warm and welcoming to all visitors, greeting each with a smile
You are dependable, reliable, and punctual for volunteer assignments
You have a willingness to learn what you need to know to do your volunteer assignment
You show a willingness to cooperate with staff and other volunteers, accepting supervision and evaluation of your volunteer work
You are familiar with and have access to a computer for correspondence and scheduling
Because the museum serves diverse audiences, we recruit individuals from all Bay Area communities to volunteer, including those with multilingual skills (a plus but not a requirement)

Requirements

You are at least 16 years old
You can commit to 96 hours annually, the equivalent of two four-hour shifts each month
Completion of a mandatory onboarding session

How to Apply to Become an Asian Art Museum Frontline Volunteer

Learn more about a specific volunteer opportunity by clicking on one of the Ways to Volunteer tabs below.
Volunteer applications are accepted at all times. We will keep your volunteer application on file for up to six months
SFUSD students applying to fulfill community service hours should tick the appropriate box on the volunteer application
Volunteers applying for the summer months (May to September) must apply by May to be considered and must volunteer more frequently than twice a month for the summer months

Ways to Volunteer:

Information Desk/Coat Check

Volunteering at the museum’s coat check offers an opportunity to engage with visitors and contribute to their positive experience at the museum. Information Desk/Coat Check volunteers assist with securely storing and retrieving visitor’s belongings, answer inquiries about the museum and its exhibitions, promote tours and programs, and provide local tips. In addition to providing a warm welcome, you’ll play a vital role in supporting the museum’s accessibility features, including making accessibility resources available to guests while they visit the museum. Your dedication to ensuring every visitor feels welcomed and accommodated will contribute to a memorable, inclusive, and enriching experience for all visitors.

Information Desk/Coat Check shifts:

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

morning (9:45 AM)–1:45 PM) and afternoon (1:30–5:30 PM)

Thursday

afternoon (12:45–4:45 PM) and early evening (4:30–8:30 PM)

December:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

morning (9:45 AM–1:45 PM) and afternoon (1:30–5:30 PM)

Cha May Ching Museum Boutique

Cha May Ching Museum Boutique volunteers work side-by-side with staff and other volunteers to create a great retail experience by providing excellent customer service.

In the museum boutique, we pride ourselves on creating an engaging, friendly atmosphere and sharing a passion for Asian art and culture through unique merchandise. Volunteering in the museum boutique is a lot of fun as you get to interact with visitors from around the world, learn and share about the museum, explore new merchandise, and contribute to the financial support of the museum’s exhibitions and programs.

Requirement

Comfortable with long periods of standing

Expectations

An interest in and willingness to learn about museum boutique merchandise and share your knowledge with visitors
Dependability, reliability, and punctuality for volunteer assignments
A neat appearance consistent with representing the museum and the museum boutique to visitors
A willingness to cooperate with staff and other volunteers and accept supervision and evaluation of your volunteer work
Mandatory wearing of a face mask while volunteering (if still mandated by San Francisco’s Department of Public Health)
Because we serve a diverse audience, multilingual skills are a plus (not a requirement)
Training and Time Commitment
Mandatory orientation session/interview, including mandatory training on COVID-19 safety protocols, before you can be scheduled to start volunteering. The mandatory orientation session/interview will be scheduled when your volunteer application is accepted for consideration
On-the-job training with a museum boutique staff member and/or a mentor volunteer
Ongoing briefings about new merchandise, merchandise specials, and changes in the museum boutique each time you come to volunteer
A commitment of 96 volunteer hours annually is required for at least one year, preferably two four-hour shifts each month

There are two museum boutique shifts every day the museum is open:

Thursdays, 12:45—4:45 PM and 4:15—8:15 PM (museum hours are 1–8 PM)
Fridays through Mondays, 11 AM—3 PM and 1:30—5:30 PM (museum hours are 10 AM–5 PM)
The museum is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

What more should you know about volunteering in the boutique?

Museum boutique volunteers are scheduled by the volunteer programs team and report to the boutique staff
This is a great opportunity to learn about Asian art and culture and to meet new people
Boutique volunteers work alongside a variety of people, both staff and volunteer, from throughout the Bay Area
With the ebb and flow of visitors, there are quiet times during which you’ll be asked to help with restocking and tidying
The opportunity, if requested by staff, to learn the computerized cash register

Public Programs and Events

The museum’s Programs and Events team regularly produces live cultural dance, music, lecture, and culinary events which use volunteer help. Volunteers assist with guest services during museum events, exhibition openings, receptions, and educational programs. As a volunteer, you’ll play a crucial role in these events by engaging directly with visitors to promote all of the museum’s offerings and ensure each guest’s experience is memorable and enjoyable.

Public Programs and Events shifts:

Programs usually take place on Thursday evenings and weekends. Let us know when filling out your application if you want to be notified when these volunteer opportunities are available.

Shriram Experience Learning Center

The Shriram Experiential Learning Center is a drop-in, hands-on art space for art activities related to special exhibitions. Volunteers will work in a vibrant and creative atmosphere and spend their time assisting visitors of all ages get creative. Volunteers help facilitate the art activities, keep the room tidy and well-stocked with supplies, and engage with museum visitors to support a community-building experience.

Shriram Shifts:

Volunteer shifts usually take place on Saturdays and Sundays during special exhibitions. Let us know when filling out your volunteer application if you want to be notified when Shriram volunteer opportunities are available.

Special Events and Projects

Administrative support opportunities provide a firsthand look at arts administration. Support roles may range from offering customer support over the phone to research and development. Special Events and Project volunteers must meet the threshold requirement of primary volunteer shifts before being considered for additional roles.

Let us know when filling out your application if you’d like to be notified when Special Event and Project opportunities are available. We are currently recruiting volunteers to help answer phone inquiries about our upcoming exhibition.

Do you want to be a SPECIAL EXHIBITION-ONLY volunteer?

Throughout the year we’ll be recruiting Special Exhibition-Only Volunteers. Volunteers who join us for an exhibition will be expected to volunteer for at least one four-hour shift weekly or 16 hours each month. The next exhibition for which we’ll be recruiting Special Exhibition-Only Volunteers is Hallyu! The Korean Wave, which will be on view Sep. 27, 2024 – Jan. 6, 2025.

Apply Now

Volunteering at the Asian Art Museum