Volunteer applications for GIAF 2025 open on 6 May.
Volunteers play a huge role in the success of Galway International Arts Festival. For 14 days every year they help bring extraordinary experiences to the city, its people and its visitors.
As a GIAF volunteer, you will be part of a friendly and diverse team who welcome and engage our audiences helping ensure they have a great festival experience.
Stewarding, ushering, and invigilating are just some of the main roles in our volunteer programme.
Why volunteer with GIAF?
A great time awaits you with an opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends and immerse yourself in the arts. Experience the behind the scenes of a festival while contributing to the successful delivery of one of Ireland’s leading cultural events.
As a GIAF Volunteer you will also avail of some great perks such as a volunteer kit, discounts at local businesses, festival t-shirt, free tickets to selected shows (depending on availability), free social activities, a completion certificate and a great post-festival party.
Volunteer Roles
Stewarding volunteers help ensure the safety and comfort of Festival audiences at street spectacle events and at the Heineken Big Top live music concert.
Ushering volunteers ensure a positive experience for Festival audiences at venues across the city by welcoming them, checking tickets, pointing them to their seats, providing information and providing general customer service.
Invigilating volunteers ensure artwork is not damaged and provide general customer service at art galleries across the city.
Festival Ambassadors these volunteers provide information about the programme to the general public while out and about on the busy streets of Galway city centre and at the Festival Garden.
Green Ambassadors these volunteers support GIAF's sustainability efforts and ensure the Festival audiences dispose of their waste accordingly.
Behind the Scenes and Ad Hoc Roles these roles vary each year based on need and may suit those looking for more experience in the creative industries. Interested individuals may send an email of enquiry with CV to volunteers@giaf.ie or indicate their interest using the online volunteer portal during Festival season
Important Information
*All volunteers must be aged 18 years and older
*Inclusion: our volunteer programme is open to everyone, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, disability, race, membership of the Traveller community or socio-economic status.
*Volunteer portal: we use a volunteer management software which allows volunteers to sign up for volunteer opportunities, keep track of volunteer hours and more; a free app can also be downloaded on your mobile phone.
*Induction sessions: once you have been accepted to our volunteer programme, we will keep you informed on all upcoming induction sessions.
*Policies, Code of Conduct and Certificate: If you are accepted into the volunteer programme, you will be asked to read the GIAF Volunteer Policies and to sign a Code of Conduct. At the end of the programme, you will receive a Galway International Arts Festival certificate, authenticating your participation. It will also serve as a lovely memento of your time spent volunteering with the Festival!
*Sponsors and partners: The GIAF Volunteer Department is proud to partner with the University of Galway and with its student volunteer programme, ALIVE.
Groups
If you're a leader of a school programme, theatre group, arts collective, corporation, society or voluntary agency and you would like your group to become involved, drop us a line at volunteers@giaf.ie.
Keep in touch
For more information about GIAF volunteers, email volunteers@giaf.ie. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
