Be a Volunteer
The Ringling’s volunteers selflessly donate their talents and thousands of hours each year. Their dedication, knowledge, and enthusiasm greatly enhance the experience of our visitors. Without their passion and commitment, The Ringling couldn’t support its mission as effectively. We hope that you’ll consider volunteering and help us share the legacy of John and Mable Ringling.
Whether seeking valuable experience or community service hours towards a Bright Futures scholarship, we welcome applications from persons ages 16 and up who are enthusiastic, self-directed, and sincere in their desire to serve the museum and its visitors.
In addition to meeting new friends and learning new skills, volunteers may also become eligible to receive complimentary admission, guest passes, and discounts on membership, campus dining, and Museum Store purchases.
Available Positions
As the face of The Ringling, our volunteers serve in a variety of roles. Available positions change from season to season and carry varying levels of commitment. A list of current openings is below. If your desired position isn’t currently listed, we encourage you to still submit an application so that we may contact you when recruitment resumes.
Following is a general list representing the areas where volunteers serve. Please note: all of these positions may not currently be available.
Department Assistants
This important work brings volunteers together with professional staff in various departments to provide behind-the-scenes support for programs and events. Volunteers working with sensitive or confidential information are required to complete a background check.
Family Programs Volunteers
Family Programs Volunteers assist with a variety of facilitated experiences for families with children. In addition to orientation and assignment training, successful completion of a background check is required.
Gardens Assistants
For those who enjoy bring outdoors year-round and working during early morning hours, this is an opportunity to assist staff in maintaining The Ringling’s beautiful Bayfront Gardens.
Guides
Bayfront Gardens Guides
Bayfront Gardens Guides lead a 90-minute guided walking tours outside from November – April sharing a historic overview of The Ringling’s picturesque 66-acre estate.
Museum of Art Guides
Through tours, conversations, and other activities, Guides make our collections accessible and engaging for the diverse audiences that visit our venues.
Learn more about becoming a Guide.
Ringling Ambassadors
Ambassadors serve in the McKay Visitors Pavilion, offering visitors a warm welcome and providing them with general museum information.
Ushers
In addition to greeting patrons, taking tickets, and directing people to their seats, ushers provide support and reinforce good theater etiquette during programs and performances in the Historic Asolo Theater and the Chao Lecture Hall.
Venue Experience Volunteers
Working alongside Security staff, these volunteers assist visitors in our venues and on the grounds and help monitor compliance with general museum policies and safety procedures.
Volunteer Application
If you are considering volunteering with us, we invite you to complete our application. Once the application has been submitted, a member of our staff will contact you if we have available assignments that could be a good match for your interests and schedule. We can also help to answer any questions you have at that time.
To accompany the application, individuals ages 16 and 17 will also need to submit a signed and notarized Parent/Guardian Consent Form along with documentation to verify their age.
Guides
Guides facilitate conversation-based tours based on the Ringling’s collections and special exhibitions in the Museum of Art, Ca’ d’Zan, Circus Museum and Bayfront Gardens.
Learn about becoming a Museum Guide
What does a guide do?
Through tours, conversations, and other activities, Guides make our collections accessible and engaging for the diverse audiences that visit our venues.
The investment?
Your time, passion, energy, and enthusiasm!
Concerned that you know very little about art, history, or museums in general?
Not to worry! Our comprehensive training covers all areas of our collections and prepares you to lead tours for our visitors.
What makes an ideal Guide?
Ideal candidates for this volunteer opportunity possess the following skills and experience:
- Share our commitment to ensuring the museum is a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive place
for our diverse audiences. - Have solid public speaking skills.
- Are flexible, dependable, highly motivated, and a team-player.
- Possess excellent customer service skills and problem-solving abilities.
- Provide tours to diverse audiences, including families and children.
- Are experienced at using devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones for
communication and viewing videos, reading materials, and other content. - Are comfortable with standing and walking for extended periods and climbing stairs.
Interested in applying?
If you are interested in helping us preserve and share the Ringling legacy, we encourage you to apply and we will notify you when opportunities arise.
What does a Museum of Art Guide do?
Through tours, conversations, and other activities, Guides make our collections accessible and engaging for the diverse audiences that visit our venues.
The investment?
Your time, passion, energy, and enthusiasm!
We offer guide training in short durations to offer flexibility to accommodate any schedule. Each museum course module is approximately one month long. Weekly classes will be in person on Tuesday or Saturday mornings for 3 hours. Depending on your schedule, you can select which day of the week is best for you!
Guides are continuously provided with the most up-to-date information on the collections and current methods of delivering content to our visitors. To be considered, individuals must be able to lead tours and provide a minimum of 25 hours annually through tours, meetings, and trainings in support of the guide program.
Concerned that you know very little about art, history, or museums in general?
Not to worry! Guides are continuously provided with the most up-to-date information on the collections and current methods of delivering content to our visitors.
What makes an ideal Guide?
Ideal candidates for this volunteer opportunity possess the following skills and experience:
- Share our commitment to ensuring the museum is a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive place
for our diverse audiences. - Have solid public speaking skills.
- Are flexible, dependable, highly motivated, and a team-player.
- Possess excellent customer service skills and problem-solving abilities.
- Provide tours to diverse audiences, including families and children.
- Are experienced at using devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones for
communication and viewing videos, reading materials, and other content. - Are comfortable with standing and walking for extended periods and climbing stairs.
Interested in applying?
Please complete our volunteer application if you would like to be notified when our next period of Guide recruitment gets underway.
