Volunteer Guide Susan Bidwell has always been deeply interested in art of all kinds. She says she owes her life-long interest to her late father who took her to galleries and museums from a very young age.  “While this was partly to give our mother a break on wet days, he was also genuinely interested himself, and I became infected by his enthusiasm.”

Three years ago, Susan was delighted to have the chance to train as a volunteer guide at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.  “It has become an enormously satisfying part of my life.”

Each intake of volunteer guides undertake a comprehensive training programme before they are rostered for duties. “The training I received was both very thorough and immensely enjoyable. It covered the history of the gallery, and a comprehensive short course on New Zealand art and art history. We also learned how to showcase the works to those we would be guiding, drawing on the artistic techniques used as well as the message the artist intended to convey. We had a chance to shadow one of the more experienced guides and then be observed as we took a tour ourselves before we were launched into guiding independently.  Additionally, every time a new exhibition opens, we guides receive a fully informative ‘Keep Up’ session from the Guided Engagement Coordinator and very often a talk from the curator who has put the exhibition together or sometimes from the artist themself. This training is invaluable preparation for being able to guide tours confidently and knowledgeably for members of the public.”

Susan very much enjoys meeting the wide variety of people who come to the Gallery and loves being able to introduce them to the building and the works on display. 

She sometimes assists with the schools programme and is always impressed by the way the Education and Learning Specialist makes the sessions so engaging.  “The children not only get to experience the artworks within the gallery setting but also create and take away a work of their own. I know from experience how influential it is to expose children to art.”

Susan has enjoyed other opportunities that have arisen from volunteering as a guide include exploring the library and archives at the Gallery, and the chance to research and present a short talk on a particular work as part of the Gallery’s Art Bite programme.

All these things make volunteering at the Gallery an immensely enriching experience for Susan and one which she regards as “an absolute privilege”.

Christchurch Art Gallery volunteer guide Allanah James joined the team in 2020. She talks about her passion for art and how there’s always so much more to learn about an artwork.

The Gallery has an incredible team of forty Volunteer Guides – and we want more! We’re currently seeking expressions of interest for ten enthusiastic individuals to join us.

A few weeks ago my family and I visited Cass but something didn't look quite right.

Voluntary work is work done of one's own free will, unpaid, for the common good.