Azrina, 21, from Singapore/Indonesia, volunteers with esea contemporary.
My role as a volunteer gallery assistant at esea contemporary involves a range of tasks such as attending to visitor enquiries about upcoming events and the artworks, helping with research to curate workshops and overall, ensuring a welcoming visitor experience. I have been volunteering here since March this year.
I moved to Manchester almost four years ago to pursue my undergraduate degree. As an international student, volunteering has proven to be an invaluable way for me to interact with the local communities and acquire transferable skills that would enhance my professional growth. Since then, I have participated in various community projects and causes, ranging from working with kids to coordinating fundraisers and art education.
Since completing my degree, I was looking to continue volunteering and explore my interests in the arts. With this, this role was a means for me to gain exposure to the creative landscape in Manchester as well as share knowledge about my own cultural background as a Southeast Asian. As a public-facing role, this was also an exciting opportunity to work on my communication skills and get involved in the reopening of an organisation.
I find volunteering fulfilling to engage with a wide variety of individuals from various age groups, cultural backgrounds, and hobbies. During my interactions with guests, we often discuss not only the art exhibit but also the people who work in the community sector nearby. Additionally, the gallery staff entrust me with various responsibilities, ensuring that each workday is unique and stimulating. I am excited to learn new skills and take on fresh challenges with each shift. As someone at the beginning of my professional experience, talking to the gallery staff has also been helpful in learning how they got to their roles and the resources available to build my career.
Since my recent return to the UK, I have been able to build relationships with people and expand my knowledge of the arts and culture sector. Volunteering has provided me with a flexible schedule that allows me to easily balance my work and personal life. It's been a great experience to meet people outside of the university and create a routine that works for me.
Volunteering is always a rewarding experience as you often get to see the meaningful impact of your work. Whether this means getting to see the enthusiasm on visitors' faces in engaging with the exhibitions or helping out the staff with research/admin-related tasks, it is an environment where the passion of the people around you and what they do is evident.
Throughout my experiences volunteering in Manchester, I have consistently received warm welcomes from the staff. They are enthusiastic about watching me grow from my time there. Volunteering provides a valuable opportunity to experiment with new things and collaborate with individuals who share similar values. You can bring your professional and personal skills and qualities, and feel motivated by the impact your contributions have. Additionally, volunteering is a meaningful way to gain a deeper understanding of a cause or group of beneficiaries you are interested in but unsure where to start.