Volunteer

Do you want to be a part of bringing culture to life across the city?

A group of volunteers at Manchester International Festival

Photo by Louis Reynolds

Applications now open

Volunteer with us for Manchester International Festival (MIF) 2023, and a summer of incredible events at Factory International.

It’s going to be a very special year. Not only does MIF return for another 18 extraordinary days (29 June – 16 July), but we’ll also welcome the first visitors to our brand-new venue, Factory International – and you can be part of the team.

Whether you love art, music and culture, or you just want to try something new, we’re looking for Mancunians of all kinds to join the team. Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do and get involved in everything from supporting shows behind the scenes, to being the face of the festival.

Volunteering is fun, varied and flexible enough to fit around other commitments. It’s a great way to pick up new skills and make unexpected connections.

Applications are now open for volunteering at MIF23 and across our summer events! Head to the link below to get started.

Deadline for applications is Thursday 13 April.

Apply to Volunteer →

WHY VOLUNTEER?

Lots to do. From visual art exhibitions to music gigs, theatre shows to Festival Square –- there are a wide range of events, and you can do something different every day.

Join a supportive community. OK, we’re biased, but MIF volunteers are the best! Be part of a diverse and caring team of people coming together to put on incredible events.

Learn something new. Volunteering can be a great way to pick up skills and lead to new opportunities.

It’s flexible. Festival shifts take place in the daytimes and evenings, weekdays and weekends – and can be as short as a couple of hours to fit around busy lives. You can sign up to the shifts that work best for you.

WHAT YOU COULD BE INVOLVED IN

Be the face of the festival. Our volunteer team makes our welcome to audiences extra special. Whether it's greeting the public at Festival Square, or helping us to steward a one-of-a-kind event, you'll be right in the middle of the action.

Get involved behind the scenes. It takes a lot of people to keep MIF moving! We’ll be looking for volunteers to support the teams that look after artists, participants, and our wider events.

Lead a team. Volunteer Team Leaders are our heroes. They make sure other volunteers are supported and act as a link between a show and a volunteer team, while having a greater level of involvement and insight into one or two festival shows.

Lay the groundwork. We often have opportunities for volunteers to drop in for a few hours to test out our artists’ ideas, or get stuck in to preparing a show before it opens to the public. It’s a great way to get a sneak peak of the Festival.

Expect the unexpected. We’re a festival of world premieres, so there are always new kinds of volunteering roles and weird and wonderful project to be involved in.

How it all works

Want to volunteer at MIF23? There's a simple three- step process:

Step one: apply. Submit a short and simple application using our online volunteer hub. What you tell us about yourself will help us build a team with different interests and availability, and one that reflects the rich diversity in our city and the world at large. There are no wrong answers (we promise)!

Step two: meet the team. We’ll invite everyone who is shortlisted to visit MIF HQ to have a chat with a member of the volunteer team (normally one of our wonderful returning volunteers!) This is a chance for us to get to know you, and for you to decide if volunteering is right for you.

Step three: get ready. All volunteers attend a festival induction session where you'll learn more about the Festival and summer programme, and receive all the training you need for your volunteer role. You'll then be ready to get stuck into volunteering at MIF23.

good to know

We reimburse travel and subsistence expenses in line with our expenses policy.

We supply Festival clothing for your shifts, including a t-shirt and a waterproof coat.

We’ll provide all the training you need for your role, so no previous experience is required.

Volunteering at MIF is open to everyone aged 18 and over who lives in Greater Manchester. (Not yet 18? Check out the range of other ways to get involved)

This opportunity includes volunteering at venues across the city during the Festival – as well as at Factory International between June and August 2023.

Got a question about your application? Email us: volunteering@factoryinternational.org

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