Volunteer

Staff members of the various departments will directly contact and interview prospective volunteers. We regret that there may not be opportunities for all qualified candidates.

Please review the following assignment descriptions to understand the requirements of each department and decide which ones best match your interests and abilities. You must indicate your preferred department assignments in the online application form.

Note: The Volunteer Organization does not accept applications from high school, undergraduate, or graduate students. Tristate-area high school students are eligible to apply for high school internships. Internships are also offered for undergraduate and graduate students.

Apply online.

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Department Assignments: The Met Fifth Avenue

Clerical Volunteers

Clerical Volunteers work alone or in groups, performing a variety of duties in departments throughout the Museum, such as Merchandising and Education. They are needed for weekday, evening, and weekend positions, year-round. The time commitment varies, depending on the demands of the particular department and position (a typical shift is four to five hours a week on a year-round basis).

Education: Access Programs Volunteers

Access Volunteers help make programs accessible and engaging for visitors with disabilities. They assist educators with program preparation, carrying and distributing materials, and helping visitors get around in The Met's three locations.

Education: Family Programs Volunteers

Family Programs Volunteers are a friendly, professional face for the Museum, and help welcome families to a variety of programs. Volunteers gather and prepare supplies, help with set-up and clean-up, assist teaching staff in facilitating hands-on experiences, help with wayfinding, and provide a positive, personal museum experience. (Applicants should be able to volunteer at least once per month.)

Education: Gallery Talks and Exhibition Tours Volunteers

Adult Gallery Programs Volunteers welcome visitors and distribute and collect assistive listening devices used to enhance the experience for those participating in gallery conversations led by curators, educators, other Museum staff, and guest speakers.

Education: Studio Programs Volunteers

Studio Programs Volunteers assist staff and teaching artists in hosting art-making programs for all ages that take place in the galleries, with the goal of creating a more personalized and intimate experience for participating visitors.

Library Volunteers

Opportunities to volunteer in the Museum's libraries occur infrequently. When needed, volunteers primarily serve in Thomas J. Watson Library and Nolen Library in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education. Watson Library Volunteers assist behind the scenes in every aspect of the library, including helping to acquire and conserve material, and updating and managing information files. They work one half-day per week, year-round. Nolen Library Volunteers assist with resource management and help users with reference and teacher resource materials. Weekday Nolen Volunteers work at least one half-day per week, year-round. Weekend Nolen Volunteers work a minimum of one day every three weeks. Library or teaching experience is preferred for Nolen Library Volunteers.

Visitor Experience Volunteers

Visitor Experience (VX) volunteers serve as the face of The Met at Information Desks, Member Lounges, and in Carson Family Hall. They offer assistance and recommendations to visitors, members, and groups. Clear, friendly, and welcoming communication skills are a basic requirement. Volunteers must enjoy providing accurate directions to visitors from every background, and must acquire a thorough knowledge of the Museum. Computer skills, especially Internet-search skills, are required. Volunteers who serve in Carson Family Hall offer support to, and facilitate the processing of, K–12 school students visiting the Museum for group tours.

Starting with a one-day orientation, volunteers participate in a comprehensive training program that takes place over a few months. Upon completion volunteers have a broad knowledge of the Museum, its policies, and The Met collection. VX volunteers serve either one weekly three-hour weekday shift, year-round, or one three-hour evening or weekend shift every other week. Volunteers must work a minimum number of shifts to satisfy departmental requirements.

Research Volunteers

These volunteers typically work alone, performing research and scholarly duties in departments throughout the Museum, such as The American Wing, Conservation and Scientific Research, and Education. They are needed for weekday, evening, and weekend positions, year-round. The time commitment varies, depending on the demands of the particular department and position (a typical shift is four to five hours a week on a year-round basis).

Survey Volunteers

Survey Volunteers are the backbone of the Museum's visitor-research efforts. They help the Museum gather visitor feedback by conducting surveys and interviews. Survey Volunteers do not have fixed weekly shifts; they work for two to three hours periodically, when surveys are scheduled. Candidates must have a flexible schedule, including availability on weekdays and weekends. No previous survey experience is necessary, as training will be provided, but strong interpersonal skills and the ability to successfully interact with Museum visitors are required.

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Department Assignments: The Met Cloisters

Concerts at the Cloisters Volunteer Ushers

Concert Volunteers assist Museum staff who oversee the concert series at The Met Cloisters. There are about seven to nine concert dates per year, usually with two performances on each date. Volunteers arrive in the morning to assist with phone calls, phone sales, and concert-desk setup. Volunteers assist with ticket sales at the door, greet and give directions and information to ticket holders, take tickets, usher concert goers at seating time, monitor the concert-hall door for latecomers, and ensure efficient exit of concert goers after the conclusion of event. Experience with event ticketing and engaging with the public in a performing-arts setting is desired. 

The Gardens

Garden Volunteers assist horticultural staff at The Met Cloisters with garden maintenance, including weeding, deadheading, and sweeping paths. These volunteers are required to work half days (three hours) or full days (five hours).

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Applications

Only those who submit an online application will be considered for placement. The application requires a personal statement expressing why you wish to volunteer at The Met, and what interests, skills, and experiences you would bring to the position (maximum 250 words).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and remain on file for one year. We regret that there may not be opportunities for all qualified candidates.

Note: The Volunteer Organization does not accept applications from high school, undergraduate, or graduate students. Tristate-area high school students are eligible to apply for high school internships. Internships are also offered for undergraduate and graduate students.

Apply online.

The Volunteer Organization of The Met recruits and trains volunteers for the Museum's Guided Tour Programs, designed to serve the needs and interests of our diverse visitors, from elementary school children to adults. No prior art history background or work experience is required to volunteer; however, those wishing to volunteer in the Guided Tour Programs should be comfortable working and communicating with the public. Volunteers for these positions undergo extensive, rigorous training to achieve the highest standards of content and presentation.

The Weekend Guided Tour Program includes tours for adults in English and in ten other languages: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. All accepted applicants are required to attend a yearlong training course concentrating on the history of art as it applies to the Museum's collection, as well as on presentation skills and research techniques. Training classes are held Friday evenings to accommodate those who are employed full-time. After the initial training year, mandatory ongoing training continues during the academic year. Volunteers are responsible for extensive research and preparation for their biweekly tours. Volunteering in the Museum's Guided Tour Programs requires a high degree of motivation and dedication, and a minimum commitment of at least three years. The experience is highly rewarding.

Interested applicants are very strongly encouraged to follow two volunteer-led guided tours this season at The Met before applying.

Please read the following program descriptions to determine to which program you would like to apply.

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Weekend Guided Tour Program for Adults 2020–21 

Volunteers in these programs conduct regularly scheduled one-hour tours, including a modified schedule during the summer months at both The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Tours feature highlights of The Met collection, which presents 5,000 years of art from every corner of the globe. They are designed to provide visitors with a general introduction to the Museum. We are seeking people of all backgrounds and abilities. No prior training in art history is required. The year-long training program is rigorous and includes curatorial lectures, research, analysis, and presentation skills. Independent study is crucial. Tour guides make a minimum three-year commitment to the Volunteer Organization, and most stay with the program much longer.

Weekend Guided Tours

Guides give weekend tours on Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. The training sessions are usually scheduled on Friday evenings to accommodate candidates who are employed full-time.

Weekend International Guided Tours

These tours are designed to introduce international visitors to The Met collection. The one-hour tours are scheduled twelve months of the year in ten languages (other than English): Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Candidates for this program must be proficient in English in addition to the language in which they will be conducting tours. All training is conducted in English.

Weekend Guided Tours at The Met Cloisters

Guides conduct Sunday afternoon tours immersing visitors in the art and culture of the medieval period. This program resides at The Met Cloisters, a branch of the Museum located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan (accessible via the A train to 190th Street; free parking is also available). 

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Applications and Inquiries

The application deadline for the 2020–21 Weekend Guided Tour, International Guided Tour, and Met Cloisters Guided Tour Programs for the class commencing September 2020 is February 15, 2020. (Note: we are currently not accepting applications for the Weekday Adult or School Group Guided Tour Programs.)

Apply online.

Note: The Volunteer Organization does not accept applications from high school, undergraduate, or graduate students. Tristate-area high school students are eligible to apply for a high school internships. We offer a number of internships for undergraduate and graduate students.

If you have any questions, please email us at volunteers@metmuseum.org.