Volunteer
Whether through one-on-one student help in classes, administrative assistance in the ACT office, or providing direction through one-time events, we are so thankful for our volunteers. See below for our on-going and one-time volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering With ACT
Becoming a volunteer with ACT is easy!
Fill out the Application Form
First, fill out the brief volunteer application form online. Please note that some volunteer placements will require a background check.
Schedule Volunteer Orientation
An ACT staff member will reach out to you to schedule a volunteer orientation.
Attend Volunteer Orientation
During orientation, you and the ACT staff member will decide which volunteer area is a good fit for you, based on the interest areas you select in the form.
Questions? Contact our Creative Cube Coordinator.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Check out what opportunities are currently available.
Weekly, On-Going
Winter ACTion Drumming
When: Mondays; January 6 - February 25 (NO class January 20; make-up day March 2)
Class Time: 5:30 - 6:45PM
Volunteer Time: 5:15 - 7:00PM
Location: ACT Studio
Volunteers are needed to assist our drum troupe as they gear up for winter-spring performances. Volunteers must be available for the performances and for most of the rehearsals. No drumming experience necessary, just join in on the setting up/tearing down, assisting the teaching artist and program staff and drumming alongside students as they learn new technique and rhythm for this falls performances!
Performances:
February 25 at Marge's Donut Den
Spring ACTion Drumming (Adult)
When: Mondays; March 2 - May 8 (NO class March 30, April 4 and May 4)
Class Time: 5:30 - 6:45PM
Volunteer Time: 5:15 - 7:00PM
Location: ACT Studio
Volunteers are needed to assist our drum troupe as they gear up for winter-spring performances. Volunteers must be available for the performances and for most of the rehearsals. No drumming experience necessary, just join in on the setting up/tearing down, assisting the teaching artist and program staff and drumming alongside students as they learn new technique and rhythm for this falls performances!
Performances:
March 23 at ACT for our This Ability Open House
March 28 at GR Ballet for Collage
May 8 at Lincoln Campus for Festival Day
ACTion Choir (Adult)
When: Thursdays; January 9 - May 8 (NO class April 2, April 9, May 7)
Class Time: 12:30 - 1:30PM
Volunteer Time: 12:15 - 1:45PM
Location: Kuyper College Chapel
Volunteers are needed to assist our choir for winter-spring session! Volunteers are required to be all performances and most rehearsals. No singing experience necessary, just join in on the setting up/tearing down, assisting the teaching artist an program staff, encouraging students to sign their hearts out and experiencing the pure joy that our choir has to offer!
Performances:
March 28 at GR Ballet for Collage
April 30 at Kuyper College Chapel for Spring Concert
May 8 at Lincoln Campus for Festival Day
Art of Character Dance
When: Fridays; March 13 - May 22 (NO class April 3, April 10, May 8; make-up day May 29)
Class Time: 12:30 - 1:30PM
Volunteer Time: 12:15 - 1:45PM
Location: ACT Studio
Volunteers are needed to help our adult and transition classroom students explore the art of character dance with instructors from CARE Ballet. This class will end with a special performance in ACT's new studio!
Made in Michigan
When: Tuesdays; Jan 7 - Feb 11 (make-up day on Feb 18)
Class Time: 5:15 - 6:30PM
Location: ACT studio
Assist our adult students as they learn to create a variety of Michigan-themed visual art projects.
Clay Bead Design
When: Tuesdays; Jan 7 - Mar 3 (make-up day on Mar 10)
Class Time: 6:30 - 7:45PM
Location: ACT studio
ACT has a brand new kiln that we will be using for the first time in this class. Assist our adult students as they explore the many uses of clay beads with a focus on necklaces and their design.
Dancing With Ribbons
When: Tuesdays; February 25 - May 19 (no class on Mar 31, Apr 7, May 5; make-up day on Mar 24)
Class Time: 5:15 - 6:15PM
Location: ACT studio
Volunteers are needed to help our adult students explore movement and dance with ribbons. This class will end with a special performance in ACT's first ever fundraising breakfast!
Performance:
May 19 at ACT Breakfast
Making Marionettes
When: Tuesdays; Mar 17 - May 12 (no class on Mar 31, Apr 7, May 5, May 19; make-up day on May 26)
Class Time: 6:30 - 7:45PM
Location: ACT studio
Volunteers will assist our adult students in creating a unique marionette that moves. The class will build a small set and will create a collaborative story to perform in a final showcase.
ACT Classes in the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
Location: Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
Creative Movement and Drum
Tuesdays, 1:45-2:45 pm & 3-4 pm
Join ACT teacher, Leah Ivory, as she brings her
djembes to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Veterans are encouraged to drum, sing, and even dance! No experience needed. Sign up and join us for one session each week, or stay for both!
Visual Art and Creative Expression
Fridays, 2-3 pm
Assist veterans as they are guided through a variety of visual art projects, led by an ACT teaching artist. You'll have fun in this laid-back atmosphere as you provide one-on-one
assistance and get to know the veterans and their rich histories.
One-Time
Early Childhood Art Education Family Night
When: Wednesday, March 18
Location: Grand Rapids Children's Museum
Event Time: 6:00 - 7:30PM
Volunteer Time: 5:45 - 8:00PM
Join ACT in celebrating art with the students and families of early childhood programs. Volunteers will set up materials, facilitate arts and crafts and play along with students in a drum circle.
This Ability Open House
When: Monday, March 23
Location: ACT Studio
Event Time: 4:00 - 7:00PM
Volunteer Time: 3:30 - 7:30PM
Assist ACT as we open our studio for interactive arts, music and more! Volunteers will set up materials, interact with visitors, and more!
Collage
When: Saturday, March 28
Location: Grand Rapids Ballet
341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Event Time: 1:00 - 2:00PM
Volunteer Time: 11:30AM - 2:30PM
Collage is an annual event that brings together art agencies to create one collaborative performance! Volunteers will hand out programs, help guests to their seats, assist student performers and more at a collaborative performance featuring drumming, singing, acting and more!
ACTion Art Education Days
When: Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1
Location: GRAM
Event Time:10:00AM - 2:30PM
Volunteer Time: 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Hosted in the GRAM Education Center, The ACTion Art Exhibit will offer two days of art exploration and activities for special education and inclusion classrooms. Each participating classroom will have a one-hour art lesson and tour the exhibit.
Creative Cube at ACTion Art
When: March 31 and April 1 & 2
Location: GRAM
Event Time: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Volunteer Time: 9:00AM - 6PM
AM SHIFT: 9:00AM - 1:30PM
PM SHIFT: 1:30 - 6:00PM
Join us at the Creative Cube for our first event of 2020! Volunteers will assist with set-up, tear-down, and hands on art activities for special education and inclusion classrooms visiting the exhibit, as well as members of the public.
Festival Day Prep
When: Thursday, May 7
Where: ACT and Lincoln Campus
Volunteer Time: 8:30AM - 8:00PM
AM SHIFT: 8:30AM - 12:30PM
PM SHIFT: 2:00AM - 8:00PM
Lend a hand setting up for our biggest event of the year! Help pack the U-haul at ACT for the morning shift and in the afternoon help us set up classrooms, workshops, and equipment at Lincoln Campus before Festival Day attendees arrive the next morning.
Festival Day Parking Prep
When: Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8
Where: Lincoln Campus
Volunteer Time:
Thursday, May 7: 2:00 - 8:00PM
Friday, May 8: 7:00AM - 2:00PM
Lend a hand setting up parking guides throughout Lincoln Campus for our annual Festival Day on May 8! On Thursday volunteers will walk around campus and set up flags, signs and cones to direct people where to park at the event. Before and during the event volunteers will be placed throughout campus to guide volunteers, artists and students where to park and where to find their station for the day. Volunteer opportunity open to volunteer groups as well as individual volunteers.
Annual Festival Day
When: Friday, May 8
Where: Lincoln Campus
Event Time: 9:00AM - 1:20PM
Volunteer Time: 8:30AM - 2:00PM
Nearly 1,000 students and over 300 volunteers help to make this day special--don't miss out on the fun! Assist a teaching artist during a workshop, help navigate classrooms as students venture to and from activities, prep and replenish art supplies, assist with mobile art studio activities, or help clean up at the end of the school day. Volunteer opportunities open to volunteer groups as well as individual volunteers.
Volunteer Spotlight
Jenna Dominique
Jenna first connected with ACT back in January 2014 as a programming intern. Even now that she’s a kindergarten teacher, Jenna still makes time to volunteer with the ACTion drummers! “I’ve continued my involvement with ACT because it is an organization that provides artistic opportunities to students, no matter their abilities, which resonates with me greatly as a teacher. ACT is not just an organization, but a caring community that gives people a sense of belonging, and I feel lucky to be apart of it. I secretly want my own drum set, with dreams of being in a band, after being part of the ACTion drummers for so long!” Thank you Jenna for bringing your positivity and inspiring spirit to the ACTion drummers!
