Volunteer

Volunteer for Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf

We are now in the process of building our ‘2024 Volunteer Army’ so if you are keen to volunteer (or learn more) please SIGN UP.

Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf is a not-for-profit organisation. We would not be able to run the exhibition to the high standard we reach each year without the help of our dedicated volunteers.

Volunteers play a hugely important role in Sculpture on the Gulf – not only as the friendly, welcoming faces of the event but by providing critical support to our artists and delivery team during the exhibition.

We provide volunteers with a wonderful opportunity to experience the exhibition’s excitement, meet artists from all over Aotearoa New Zealand, and gain an insight into the production and management of a significant arts event.

Sign Up as a Volunteer

THE 2024 EVENT

SOTG opens on Saturday 24 February and runs until Sunday 24 March. We have 20+ works along the walkway, at Matiatia and the Artworks Courtyard plus the small sculpture exhibition at The Waiheke Community Art Gallery.
We will have the marquee and site office located at Matiatia just in front of Ahipao (who’ll be doing a rip roaring F&B trade).
Free drinking water stations will be set up at Matiatia, the start of the walk and the end of the coastal walkway, port-a-loos will also be at all these locations.

A BIT ABOUT VOLUNTEER LOCATIONS & ROLES

Ferry Terminal, Matiatia Wharf.  

As the eager visitors disembark from the ferry, greet them with your positive vibes and guide them to the walkway along the foreshore to the Information Tent.

Hand them a flyer/brochure to inspire them as they make their way over.

Information Tent, In front of Ahipao Cafe. 

The Information Tent is where visitors can purchase shuttle bus tickets, catalogues and purchase their entry ticket. There will be plenty of information for visitors too including other things to do on Waiheke. Toilets, Site office and the First Aid station is also located at the Information Tent,
Shuttle bus tickets – $TBCpp – children 15 and under FOC
Entry – $20pp – children 15 and under FOC

Bus Line at Information Tent 

This is a great position for someone with a keen eye who would be able to jump into action, making sure visitors have their shuttle bus ticket and wristband (or if not promote the donation cause). We will have a Kauri Dieback tray located in the bus line and all visitors and 4 legged friends need to walk through the tray prior to getting onto the shuttle bus.

Check to see if they have water, sunscreen and correct foot wear as some of the tracks are challenging. Then wish them all the best for our unique art experience!

Kauri Dieback & Traffic Management Advocates
This location is based at the end of Nick Johnstone Drive / top of Te Miro Lane before the start of the walkway.

This is where the shuttle bus will drop off eager art enthusiasts.

Be the one to save our majestic and ancient trees that are neighbours to our project. Check that everybody who has not arrived by shuttle bus uses the Kauri Dieback station located here. This role is important as you are the person to not only make sure we help to stop the disease, but promote the cause with information to make people aware of this. Your job will also include refilling the trays with “Sterigene” if needed.(Kauri DieBack solution for shoes)
Your role will also be to ensure visitors do not park anywhere near the start as this prohibits the buses from turning around and passing each other.  There will be a port-a-loo located here too – this is the last one until the end of the walkway.

Start of walkway: Te Miro Lane 

This is the official start of the sculpture walk. There will be plenty of signage at the entrance to the walk where catalogues can be purchased and entry tickets can be purchased. This is a KEY position as some visitors have no idea how challenging parts of the walk can be, which means volunteers here play an important role in ensuring people are ‘walk ready’. There will be a free drinking water tank for people to fill their water bottles as well as free sunscreen available.

Walkway Volunteers, 2 – 3 stations positioned over the walk

These positions are key as volunteers on the walkway are the eyes & ears on the ground. Keep an eye on visitors well-being. Maybe they need some water, sunscreen or a mask? How do they look? Maybe they would like a seat to relax, catch their breath, reflect on what they have seen so far. Maybe shed some information about the artist’s work. Promote the small sculpture exhibition at. the Waiheke Community Art Gallery in Oneroa. 

End of walkway: Nick Johnston Drive (also known as The Old Rocky Bay stall!) 

This is the end of the coastal walkway and where the shuttle bus collects visitors to take them to the Art Gallery & Oneroa then back to Matiatia. Traffic management is key in this area too as people love moving the cones so they can park on the road which becomes a problem with our shuttle buses. It’s imperative that volunteers at this station keep an eye on parking & ensuring visitors who’re catching the shuttle bus are kept off the road until the bus has come to a complete stop.

Catalogues, shuttle bus tickets & donations are available at this station. A port-a-loo and free drinking water tank will be located here too. This year we will have a site office located at this position as previous years have seen a number of gazebo’s destroyed in bad weather.

Check that new walkers are not going the wrong way on the track to start and direct them down Nick Johnstone Drive to the starting point. Also kindly guide them away from exiting by foot through the forest to Matiatia, pop them on the bus back to Oneroa.
Refilling the trays with “Sterigene” if needed.(Kauri DieBack solution for shoes)

Artworks Courtyard 

Your role is super important!

The Community Art Gallery will be exhibiting small works from all participating artists in marquees. We want visitors to frequent the gallery as much as possible before they head into the village. The shuttle bus stops outside the library and drops off visitors from the walkway as well as picking up visitors who wish to return to Matiatia.

We want visitors to explore our beautiful island …. eat, play & stay so please encourage them to enjoy Waiheke’s offerings.

Volunteer enquiries to: Volunteers@waihekeartgallery.org.nz