Nottingham Castle searches for volunteers for Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition

30 July sees the opening of Leonardo Da Vinci: Ten drawings from the Royal Collection at Nottingham Castle. This is one of four venues in the UK and Ireland at which the drawings will be seen. The exhibition will show works that illustrate a wide range of the artist’s interests, from painting and sculpture to engineering, zoology, botany, mapmaking and anatomy. The team at Nottingham Castle is looking for friendly and enthusiastic faces to play a vital role in welcoming and supporting visitors, assisting with the exhibition talks and events programme, and engaging with visitors in the Leonardo project lab space. The project lab aims to encourage visitors to interact in the space and respond to the art they have seen. They can draw on the chalkboard painted walls; draw landscapes in gold frames on wallpaper; try out floor-based children’s activity and relax in a reading area. This is an excellent opportunity for those with an interest in the artist himself, art history generally, or those looking to gain tourism and hospitality experience of working with visitors. Tasks and activities for a Leonardo exhibition volunteer will include welcoming visitors to the exhibition gallery, supporting staff to direct visitors during busy times, and engaging and encouraging visitors to use the interactive project lab space. There will also be maintenance tasks including setting up and packing away of resources and equipment, as well as ensuring materials are replenished and kept in good condition. Lastly, volunteers may be asked to undertake simple observation and evaluation tasks and to be involved in conducting surveys in the exhibition gallery on behalf of the royal collection. Volunteers are needed at Nottingham Castle on Saturdays, Sundays and School Holidays between 10:30am – 4:30pm and every day during the school holidays from 30 July to 5 September. There are also weekend slots from 10 September to 9 October. Ideally, a commitment is sought for 4 full days. Volunteers will also be invited to the all ticket Preview evening on July 29 6-8pm. There are two information days organised for potential volunteers to learn more about the exhibition and role. These are Tuesday 19 July 3:00-4:30 and Tuesday 26 July 3:00-4:30 at Nottingham Castle. It’s essential to book a space in advance. Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said: “We are very excited to be one of the four museums and galleries across the United Kingdom and Ireland chosen to display this exhibition and we anticipate lots of interest and many visitors. The volunteers we are hoping to recruit will be a vital part of this and will help to make the experience even more memorable. These roles are a wonderful opportunity to gain experience and skills in a unique setting and our Museums and Galleries Volunteering team will ensure our volunteers really get the most out of their placements.” About volunteering with Nottingham City Museum, Galleries and Collection NCMG volunteer programme provides a range of accessible museums and galleries which inspire, inform and entertain visitors. It also provides a range of activities on and off the museum premises, which target users and current non-users of the service. Alongside this it supports the work of schools through a series of curriculum-related programmes, with a priority for City school - providing a high standard of care and management of museum collections for current and future generations to enjoy. Those who are interested in the role should contact Karen Lushey, Volunteer Programme Coordinator on 0115 8762205 or email: volunteer.programme@nottinghamcity.gov.uk For more information visit the website.