Museum of Modern Art volunteers have the opportunity to gain exposure to the workings of a major art museum and contribute valuable visitor services to a nonprofit institution. Although there are currently limited volunteer opportunities, applications are accepted at all times. We keep all applications on our waiting list, and will contact applicants with the required skills, interests, and availability for interviews as volunteer positions become available.

Qualified candidates should possess a love and appreciation of art, a flexible attitude for dealing effectively with the public, basic computer skills—including familiarity with the Internet—and an understanding that reliability is critical. To volunteer at MoMA, candidates must make a one-year commitment and be available for at least two shifts each month, unless otherwise stated in the volunteer requirements.

Please review the position descriptions before applying. Listed are some volunteer positions that become available most frequently.

Group Greeter

Greet and direct visitors, discourage line jumping, distribute general information, educate visitors about Museum programs and what's going on in New York, distribute plastic umbrella bags on rainy days, and keep traffic moving and controlled. Approach families in the lobby and inform them about the resources available to families at MoMA. Seek out and approach groups at lobby entrances, and help to orient them by greeting them, establishing whether they have a reservation, taking the group leader to group processing area, and taking the groups to checkroom and group waiting area. On occasion, escort groups and assist Group Services with evaluations.

Required Skills
Initiative taking, proactive and comfortable seeking out visitor contact, friendly and outgoing, comfortable using communication technology (i.e. two-way radio/walkie talkie), physical stamina—most of shift will be spent standing and walking

Program schedule
Daily, year round

Time Requirements
Shift: three hours
Weekday volunteers: once per week; Weekend volunteers: twice per month

Education Center Greeter

Seek out and approach school groups at the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building entrance (both in the lobby and outside at the bus), and help to orient them by greeting them, taking the group leader to group processing area, and escorting school groups to the group waiting area. Work and coordinate with Group Services staff to keep groups orderly and controlled, to assist groups with all aspects of storing belongings in bins, including physically moving bins to and from storage areas, and to escort school groups from the Education Building to the Museum. On occasion, escort groups and assist Group Services with evaluations

Required Skills
Physical stamina—shift will be spent standing, climbing stairs, and walking, sometimes outside; moving, loading, and unloading bins; Initiative taking and proactive, comfortable seeking out visitor contact, comfortable using communication technology (i.e. two-way radio/walkie talkie), enjoy working with children

Program schedule
Daily, September–May

Time Requirements
Shift: Between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., as needed according to group schedule

Satellite Information Volunteer

Answer visitor questions at Satellite Information Desks on upper floors, keep brochures stocked at desks, and distribute Visitor Guides, MoMA monthly calendars, Ford Family Activity Guides, and other Museum brochures. Help track visitor requests, questions, and comments to aid the Department of Visitor Services, including conducting occasional visitor surveys

Required Skills
Proactive, initiative taking, excellent communication skills, comfortable with seeking visitor contact

Program Schedule
Daily except Tuesday, year-round

Time Requirements
Shift: four hours, with breaks
Weekday volunteers: once per week; Weekend volunteers: twice per month

Family Gallery Programs Assistant

Tours for Tweens (Gallery Talk): Greet and sign in families preregistered for Tours for Tweens. Create nametags. Guide latecomers to their group. Assist Museum Educator with group management in the galleries. Hand out Ford Family Activity Guides and passes at the conclusion of the tour. Answer Questions about Ford Family Programs.

A Closer Look for Kids and Tours for Fours (Gallery Talks): Volunteers assigned to a group will greet families as they enter the Museum, making sure they are escorted to the correct line for their program; answer questions about Ford Family Programs and introduce new families to the program; create nametags; guide families to their group; assist Museum Educator with group management in the galleries; and hand out family activity guides and passes at the conclusion of the tour.

Volunteers not assigned to a group (floaters): Greet families as they enter the Museum, making sure they are escorted to the correct line for their program. Answer questions about Ford Family Programs and introduce new families to the program. Search the lobby and design store for families as the tours are about to begin and escort them to their group. Escort latecomers to the gallery. Join larger groups in the galleries and help manage with other Volunteers and Museum Educator.

Required Skills
Enjoy working with families. Some physical stamina needed—standing and walking required

Program Schedule
Weekends, basically year-round (one to two months no programs)

Time Requirements
Shift: three hours

Education and Family Information Volunteer

Answer visitor questions at Education and Family information desk, keep brochures stocked at desk, and distribute Education materials, including Ford Family Activity Guides and other Museum brochures. Have thorough knowledge of Education programs and offerings available at MoMA. Help track visitor requests, questions, and comments to aid the Visitor Services and Education departments, including conducting occasional visitor surveys.

Required Skills
Proactive, initiative taking, excellent communication skills, comfortable with seeking visitor contact, comfortable interacting with visitors of all ages

Program Schedule
Daily except Tuesday, year-round

Time Requirements
Shift: 4 hours, with breaks.
Weekday volunteers: once per week; Weekend volunteers: twice per month

Family Art Workshop Assistant

Sign in families for preregistered Family Art Workshops. Assist in set-up of classroom for art workshops. Assist with overall upkeep of the classroom. Assist Educator during the workshop. May help children directly but will consult with Museum Educator for specific instructions on how to best assist. Assist with clean up.

Required Skills
Some experience working with children, comfortable working with art materials, assistant teaching experience helpful

Program Schedule
Weekends: twelve workshops per month

Time Requirements
Shift: 3.5–4 hours, three times per month

How to Apply

To apply for any of the positions listed above, please download an application (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) and mail your completed application to:

MoMA Volunteer Program
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019-5497

To contact the Volunteer Program and request an application through the mail, please e-mail your mailing address to volunteers@moma.org.