Volunteer or Intern
With year-round programming, special events, and large-scale art installations, Oregon Contemporary relies on our volunteer base to help make it all happen. Volunteers work alongside staff members at events and installations. Interns gain experience across many facets of the organization and work alongside Oregon Contemporary staff members, artists, and curators who act as valuable mentors. Interns may assist with exhibitions, installations, marketing and website, research, events, and more.
Volunteering
If you would like to add your name to our volunteer mailing list and find out about upcoming opportunities, please fill out this short form. If you are interested in volunteering at Oregon Contemporary for any date or volunteer role, please respond to info@oregoncontemporary.org with your preferred name, gender pronouns, phone number, and preferred shifts.
Upcoming dates for volunteers:
Event & Installation Support
Friday, November 7 | 3:00–5:30 PM
Help with setup and running our Happy Hour event — a special viewing of A Larger Reality during Portland Book Festival’s Cover to Cover weekend. Curator Theo Downes-Le Guin and Director Blake Shell will share insights into the exhibition.
Monday, November 10 | 10:00–11:30 AM
Assist with deinstalling and packing an artwork for pick-up.
Saturday, December 6 | 3:00–8:30 PM
Support setup and operations for First Saturday, featuring:
A talk with Michelle Ruiz Keil & Ashley Stull Meyers
A screening of CROSSLUCID’s Vaster than Empires
Saturday, February 7 | 4:00–8:30 PM
Help with setup and running of First Saturday, including:
A performance of Music and Poetry of the Kesh by Ursula K. Le Guin & Todd Barton
A screening of Kesh, a short film by Rankin Renwick
Front Desk Support
After just one weekend, attendance for this exhibition has been fantastic — and we expect it to stay that way! We’re looking for volunteers to help at the front desk during open hours:
Fridays–Sundays, 12–5 PM
We especially appreciate volunteers who can cover multiple shifts to allow time for training and consistency in visitor experience.
Dates:
November: 7–9, 14–16, 21–23, 28–30
December: 5–7, 12–14, 19–21, 26–28
January: 2–4, 9–11, 16–18, 23–25, 30–31
February: 1, 6–8
Interning
In order to provide a meaningful internship experience, we ask for a minimum time commitment of 15-20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks, including one day a week allotted to gallery docent duty (Fri–Sun, 12 pm–5 pm). Priority is given to those applying for school credit. Oregon Contemporary does not provide housing, travel, or monetary compensation for interns. To learn more and apply for an internship, please review the Oregon Contemporary Intern Job Description: