Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Festival take place?                                                                                         

Are there pre-festival volunteer opportunities?                                                                 

What is the schedule during the festival?                                                                              

What types of volunteer opportunities / activities are there?                                            

What if I want to bring a group to volunteer?                                                                        

What do I get for helping out?                                                                                                   

Where is Volunteer Check-In and how do I get there?                                                         

What will happen at Volunteer Check-In?                                                                               

What happens at the end of my shift?                                                                                         

I have more questions!  Who do I contact?                                                                                

How do I sign up?                                                                                                                           

Where does the Festival take place?

Surrounding streets of City Hall in Downtown Houston:

901 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002

Click here for a map of the festival site

Are there pre-festival volunteer opportunities?

Yes!

Pre-Festival Needs (Friday, October 8, 2010)

• Artist Check-In

Location: Artist Check-In Tent

On Friday, you will be helping at the Artist Check-In booth to welcome our artists, pass out Artist Packets, answer questions and direct them to their booth locations for Move-In.  (Volunteers must be 18 or older.)

• • 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (Artist Check-In Tent at City of Houston Lot H)
  • 12 pm to 4 pm (Artist Check-In Tent at City of Houston Lot H)
  • 6:30 pm to 10 pm (Artist Check-In Tent in front of The Heritage Society)

• Artist Load-In 
  Location: Volunteers work designated zones within the overall festival footprint

You will assist artists find their booth locations, answer questions and assist with vehicle traffic control to keep Move-In running smoothly.  Inline skaters encouraged to assist with Artist Move-In.  (Volunteers must be 18 and over.)

• • 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (start at Artist Check-In Tent at City of Houston Lot H)
  • 12 pm to 4 pm (start at Artist Check-In Tent at City of Houston Lot H)
  • 6:30 pm to 10 pm (start at Artist Check-In Tent in front of The Heritage Society)

What is the schedule during the festival?

The Festival runs Saturday, October 9^th and Sunday October 10^th, 2010. Each day is divided into the following shifts:
 

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:00AM-8:00PM à please note that we have extended our hours only on Saturday to 8:00PM.

• Volunteer Shift 1 Saturday:  9:30AM-1:30PM
• Volunteer Shift 2 Saturday: 12:00PM-4:00PM
• Volunteer Shift 3 Saturday:  2:30PM-6:30PM
• Volunteer Shift 4 Saturday:  4:00PM-8:00PM

Sunday, October 10, 2010, 9:00AM-6:00PM à please note that the festival opens at 9:00AM for Accessibility Hour

• Volunteer Shift 1 Sunday: 8:30AM-12:30PM
• Volunteer Shift 2 Sunday: 11:30AM-4:00PM
• Volunteer Shift 3 Sunday: 2:30PM-6:30PM
• Artist Load-Out: 6:00PM-10:00PM

 
*Anyone wishing to volunteer for more than one shift is welcome to do so. However, you MUST remember to sign-in for each shift that you work.  We ask that volunteers report 15 minutes early for their scheduled shift(s). 

 What types of volunteer opportunities / activities are there?

• Volunteer Check-In
  Volunteers needed to help check-in our volunteers, distribute T-shirts, direct volunteers to their assignment locations, etc.  (Prior experience volunteering at the Bayou City Art Festival required.)

• Ticket Takers
  Ticket Takers provide the critical “first impression” for Festival by welcoming our guests with a smile at the entrance gates, taking tickets and directing them to the Information booth for assistance if needed.  (Small groups of up to 5 people are encouraged to register as Ticket Takers to work together.  High school students may work as Ticket Takers as long as they register one responsible adult to supervise during their shift.)

• Greeters

Our Festival Greeters distribute Festival Programs and provide directions within the Festival grounds.  Greeters should have attended the Festival at least once and be familiar with the Festival site.

• Festival Information Booth

Answer guest questions, provide directions and provide support to festival-goers.  (Information booth volunteers must have attended before and be very familiar with Festival.)

• Creative Zone Creative Assistant

A number of our Non-Profit Partners participate in the Creative Zone by presenting an art activity for children and families.  Volunteers are assigned to the booths of the Creative Zone participants to supervise children with various art activities.

• Patron Art Pick-Up Booth

Volunteers will staff booth where artists will drop-off purchased artwork so patron can pick-up art at the end of the day.  (18 and over).  Volunteers encouraged to sign-up with a buddy for this assignment.

• Stage Manager

Provide assistance to the live entertainers at the HAA Festival Stage.

• Artist Hospitality Area Supervisors
  Location: Artist Hospitality Tent and roaming festival as needed

*Volunteers who are very familiar with the Festival are encouraged to volunteer as Supervisors for Artist Hospitality.  Supervisors will welcome Artist Relief volunteers, provide a brief orientation and send the volunteers out to provide assistance to the artists.  Supervisors will also welcome artists to the Hospitality Tent, answer questions, and provide information and assistance.  (Must be 18 or over.)

• Artist Relations Relief
  Location: Volunteers work designated zones within the overall festival footprint
  
  Volunteers will teamed in pairs or small groups to roam assigned area of Festival to assist the artists by watching their booths during breaks, distributing materials, providing assistance and serving refreshments during the day.  Artist Relations Assistants will also act as the Festivals “eyes and ears” in their assigned areas, noting any problems that may arise during the Festival.  Artist Relations Assistants will be issued an “Artist Relief vest” for ease of identification by artists.  (High school students must be appropriately supervised by an adult to provide Artist Relief.)

• Artist Hospitality Area
  Location: Artist Hospitality Tent
  
  Help serve and host the artists and VIPs in the Hospitality Tent.  Assignment may also involve transporting beverages or ice, answering questions using the provided FAQ or logging issues to be addressed by festival staff.

Other Needs

• Artist Load-Out
  Location: Volunteers work designated zones within the overall festival footprint
  
  Volunteers are needed to help monitor artist load-out. Volunteers will ensure that, weather permitting, artists have disassembled their booths and moved them as much off the festival loop as possible. Once this is done, the volunteer will help the artist fill out their load-out pass and give the load-out pass to the artist once it has been completed so they may drive their vehicle into the festival loop to complete their load-out.

• • Sunday, October 10, 2010 6:30 pm to 10 pm

Please note: while every effort will be made to accommodate volunteer assignment requests, Bayou City Art Festival reserves the right to assign volunteers to the area of greatest need at the time of volunteer check-in. Volunteers may also be moved to a different assignment during their shift depending on areas of need. 

What if I want to bring a group to volunteer?

Small groups are encouraged to participate. However, groups larger than ten people will more than likely be split up to distribute enough volunteers accordingly throughout the festival. This will be at the discretion of the BCAF Volunteer Coordinator. Every member of the group must be present (with the exception of emergencies) before being admitted to the assignment.

 What do I get for helping out?

• One (1) BCAF Volunteer T-shirt
• Free admission into the festival (valid only on day of volunteering unless you are helping out before the Festival begins)

Where is Volunteer Check-In and how do I get there?

Volunteer Check-In is located in front of The Heritage Society located at:

1100 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002 View Map

 What will happen at Volunteer Check-In?

• You will sign in with your Non-Profit Partner (be sure to remember who it is!)
• If you’re under 18 you’ll hand in the Waiver you brought with you, or if you are 18+ you’ll be given one to sign upon your arrival
• If you’re part of a large group of underage volunteers, we will check to make sure you have a responsible adult present for every 5 minors
• You will receive your job assignment
• You will receive your volunteer t-shirt, which we ask that you wear during your shift. You are to submit your t-shirt size (S-XXXL) with your nonprofit partner at the time of registration. While we try to accommodate everyone’s requested t-shirt size, we cannot guarantee your size will be available when you arrive.

What happens at the end of my shift?

• We ask that you remove your volunteer t-shirt when you are through
• We hope that you will stay to enjoy the Festival after your shift is done (or arrive early to enjoy it before your shift if you’re helping out until the Festival closes)

I have more questions!  Who do I contact?

Contact Elizabeth Cleveland, our Community Relations Coordinator: elizabeth@bayoucityartfestival.com

How do I sign up?