Special Volunteer Opportunity this January

Image by Carrie Graham

We are excited to offer a special volunteer opportunity this January, for all those who are interested in what happens "behind the scenes" at the Abbe Museum.  Each year the Abbe Museum says farewell to some exhibits to make space for new ones, in a constant effort to share compelling new stories with our visitors from near and far.  In 2013 we've set the bar high, and we'll be welcoming four new exhibits throughout the year.


The first of these, Wabanaki Guides, will replace the highly acclaimed Indians & Rusticators in our main gallery.  To create an exhibit of this scale, hundreds of hours are spent researching, writing, designing, selecting artifacts, and planning accompanying programs, before we even reach the final stage: installation and fabrication.  In the end, the gallery is transformed and a new exhibit emerges.

In January of 2013, the Abbe Museum will be closed to visitors as we undergo this transformation.  Indians & Rusticators will be carefully disassembled, and Wabanaki Guides will slowly be built before opening to the public on February 6, 2013.  The Abbe Museum would like to welcome our volunteers, supporters, and friends to experience the installation and fabrication of this major exhibition--a unique opportunity to participate in the behind-the-scenes work that makes the Abbe Museum a place of learning for visitors from around the world.

Volunteer responsibilities would include, but are not limited to, mounting, cutting and installing exhibit graphics, light carpentry and painting, setting up and cleaning exhibit cases, assisting with mount making and installation of objects.  Due to the physical nature of the work, we do require the following skills and abilities in order to participate in exhibit fabrication & installation: the ability to move and lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, paint with brushes and rollers, use small power tools, comfort working with sharp cutting tools, good dexterity, and flexibility.  If you are interested in this special volunteer opportunity, please contact Julia Clark, Curator of Collections at 207.288.3519 or julia -at- abbemuseum.org.

If you would like to learn of other volunteer opportunities with the Abbe Museum, please click here to read our most recent volunteer newsletter.  You can subscribe to the volunteer newsletter, or learn more about our volunteer program, by contacting Astra Haldeman, Manager of Museums Services at 207.288.3519 or astra -at- abbemuseum.org.