Help us to welcome in the Year of the Dragon at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery this February. We are looking for volunteers to help us greet the many visitors, run craft and heritage activities and perhaps to take part in the spectacular performances.
The celebration (also traditionally known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival) is taking place over the weekend of 17 and 18 February 2024 (10am-4.30pm, though we’d like volunteers there 9am-5pm). The event is very colourful, joyful and exciting, and the biggest new year event in the Southwest of England. There will be plenty of opportunities to engage with families and others.
Volunteers representing China and other countries that celebrate Lunar New Year are very welcome to volunteer, as are people from other backgrounds.
Duties include:
- Dressing up as one of 3 pandas
- Meeting and greeting visitors and handing out the programme and trail
- Running activities with handling objects relating to Lunar New Year, The Chinese zodiac, Chinese inventions (all supplied by the museum)
- Running a dressing up in traditional clothes activity (supplied by the museum)
- Chinese calligraphy – we can supply the materials
- Helping our community partners with activities like paper folding and crafts
- Performing - we are looking for students who are able to sing, dance, play a musical instrument, or perform martial arts. We will provide the microphones and safety flooring but students would need to bring their own musical instrument and costumes.
- Other support where needed e.g. help with visitor feedback surveys, encouraging donations, crowd management, help with pack down.
Training will be provided to run activities such as discovering Chinese inventions, Lunar New Year traditions, and dressing up in traditional costumes. We have writing materials for volunteers able to help visitors to write a few greetings in Chinese.
We also have a stunning programme of performances and there are opportunities for people wishing to offer a musical, dance or martial arts performance.
The event brings people together and we’re delighted that the Lord Lieutenant, Deputy Mayor and Lord Mayor of Bristol are attending. If you are able to participate, please complete the simple form as soon as possible and we will contact you: https://forms.gle/dXTF21voCxhoZPkRA
We hope you can join us!
Best wishes from the Bristol Museum Programming and Volunteering Teams
E: museum.volunteering@bristol.gov.uk