Festival Volunteers – Call Out

Deadline: 6pm Friday 1 September 2017

Abandon Normal Devices (AND) is seeking intrepid volunteers to join us for this year’s exhilarating AND Festival, taking place 21 – 24 September 2017 in Castleton, Peak District National Park.

This September, ready yourself to enter the void, shafts and veins of the peaks for a subterranean festival with four days of site specific installations, world premieres and performances. The programme will reveal the earth’s layers, from the drone’s eye view to subterranean bunkers – it will be a prophetic, provocative and uncanny reflection on the verticality of the earth. Going on a journey from inner and outer spaces, the Festival will become a site for the symbolic and sub-conscious, composing of artistic practices which invite us to reflect on groundlessness and deep time. Expect to experience archaeologists of the future unearthing rare sounds, simulated environments and technological ruins.

Over the four days, there will be a mix of free and ticketed events in the form of ambitious digital arts installations, performances, screenings, cave tours, workshops and other live events. Specific to the surrounding area of Castleton, the programme evidences the changes to the earth, from the beginning of the Ice Age to modern-day mining.

Volunteers are crucial members of the AND team and we would love to have you join our team for this unique and special event. As part of the volunteer team you will enjoy a number of benefits, including:

• Experience the festival programme, receiving free tickets
• The opportunity to meet international artists, arts professionals, and fellow volunteers
• The chance to develop skills in team-working, communication & interacting with members of the public of all ages
• Gaining experience in more specialist roles such as marketing or installing outdoor artworks
• Working alongside & learning about different organisations such as The National Trust and Peak District National Park
• Learning about the implementation of Creative Technology in Arts Projects
• Plus, you’ll receive an AND Festival T-shirt to keep as a memento

Volunteer Roles

Volunteer roles for the festival include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

• stewarding
• ushering
• information assistance
• events management (including the set up and clearing of events)
• market research (conducting surveys, gathering public feedback, interviewing)
• assisting with artwork install and de-install

Skills/qualifications required

No particular skills or qualifications are required to volunteer for the Festival, however experience with some of the following would be desirable for certain roles:

• Recording and documentation of events / editing recorded material (requires tech experience, ability to use cameras, microphones, etc. and knowledge of editing software).
• Assisting with install and de-install of artworks (tbc; requires working prior to and after the festival).
• Digital media, updating website content and social media management.
• Market research / Audience Evaluation

Travel & Accommodation

The festival is located in Castleton in the Peak District National Park.

For volunteers not based in the Castleton area – travel to the site and accommodation during the festival will be provided.

Shifts
Ideally you will be able to commit to 3 full shifts (approx. 8 hours) during the festival, however please still apply even if your availability is less than this.

We will also need some assistance prior to and after the festival, so please indicate on your application form if you are available to spare some time outside of the 21 – 24 September and would like to help.

Training
All volunteers will have to attend a training and briefing session – either in Manchester, Sheffield or in Castleton. Exact date is tbc but will be w/c 4 September.

Additional training required for more specialist roles will be provided by a member of the team during the festival.

Applying
AND Festival ’17 Volunteers Registration Form

Deadline for applications 6pm Friday 1 September 2017
If you need any further information please email: natalie@andfestival.org.uk