Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program

Volunteer Opportunities at the Smithsonian

Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program

The Office of Visitor Services (OVS)—a central organization responsible for providing information on the Smithsonian and its public programs and for providing behind-the-scenes assistance on staff projects—manages the Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program.

The Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program (BVP) offers challenging alternatives to more public-oriented volunteer activities. This program provides opportunities in two service areas: Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program and Translation Services*.

The Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program (BVP) provides assistance to Smithsonian staff by recruiting and placing individuals who wish to contribute their time and expertise to specific areas of study within the Institution. Volunteers in this program work with staff members on both short-term and long-term projects.

Opportunities are generally available in: archives; libraries; administrative offices; conservation laboratories; and curatorial divisions related to art, history, and science collections. Placements are determined by matching volunteer qualifications, knowledge, interests, and availability with project requirements. Volunteer assignments can be arranged in most disciplines and museums.

Upon completion of a written application and a personal interview as well as successful completion of a background investigation, qualified applicants are referred to staff members for consideration. Training, if required, is provided by the project supervisor. A minimum time commitment of 3 months, 6 hours per week during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, is required.

Translation Services*: These BVP volunteers translate documents, correspondence, and journal articles for Smithsonian staff. Translators generally work at home at their own pace, but occasionally, may be called upon to provide oral interpretation assistance for official visitors during meetings and conferences.

*Opportunities for weekend service.

Application Procedure

Apply to volunteer online »

Note: Parents of minors must complete and sign a Parent Consent Form (PDF). An interview will not be scheduled with the applicant until this completed form arrives in the Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer office.

Typical Assignment Opportunities

Administrative: general office support (answering phones, filing, data entry)

Archival: cataloguing; organizing and storing paper materials, photographs, film, audio tapes.

Collections Management: labeling, sorting, storing artifacts; entering information about the collection into a database.

Computer: assisting network managers, helping develop Internet applications, scanning and enhancing images, developing CD ROM applications.

Conservation: creating protective storage containers, cleaning and repairing artifacts.

Curatorial: responding to written inquires from the public, providing research support for staff in a variety of departments.

Development: researching prospective corporate, individual, and foundation donors.

Education: scheduling tours, responding to public inquiries, providing administrative assistance to docent and intern programs.

Horticulture: working in greenhouses, potting, planting, weeding.

Libraries: shelving; cataloguing;storing books, pamphlets, serials; creating annotated bibliographies; maintaining departmental reprint libraries.

Membership: answering written inquires, responding to phone calls, assisting with mailings, developing flyers, maintaining membership databases.

Public Affairs: preparing press packets, assisting with special events and media relations, clipping newspaper and magazine articles about exhibitions and museums.