Volunteers

"At MAC I have met some of the nicest and most interesting volunteers, employees, instructors, and patrons. It is wonderful to share our lives, interests, and commonalities. I have learned lots of new things from our interactions.” - Louise Mueller

The mission of the volunteer office is to recognize and utilize the talents of community members to assist in expanding services to the public while economizing staff time. Whether you have an artistic talent that you would like to share or would just like to get involved, volunteering at Mesa Arts Center is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community while enjoying and supporting the arts.

“Working at the Mesa Arts Center and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum have been the high light of my life. I have met wonderful people and fellow volunteers. Each person I have met, have a story and have experienced a life full of challenges and adventures.” - Donna Bruner

The Mesa Arts Center Volunteer program is managed by Michelle Prosser. Michelle can be reached at 480-644-4695, or michelle.prosser@mesaartscenter.com. 

Benefits for Active Volunteers

• Gain valuable experience in the arts field
• Give back to your community while supporting the arts
• Make wonderful new friendships
• Earn points while you volunteer to redeem for Mesa Arts Center class discounts, complimentary tickets to performances, membership opportunities and more!

Volunteer Opportunities

• Special Events Aide
• Theater Usher
• Docent
• Museum Admissions Attendant
• Instructors Aide
• Store Assistant
• Tour Guide
• Administrative Aide

Ready to get started? Click here to fill out the volunteer application form or download the form here. Questions? Contact Michelle Prosser, Volunteer Program Manager. Michelle can be reached at 480-644-4695, or michelle.prosser@mesaartscenter.com. 

For Current Volunteers

Click HERE to log-in to the Volunteer Website

Become a Mesa Arts Center advocate at work! Click to learn more.

Mesa Arts Center Studios Department is seeking creative and experienced teaching artists for the performing arts department! We are seeking to fill vacancies for teaching artists in both theater/drama as well as dance/movement for both adult (ages 16+) and youth (ages 6-16) classes for the Fall 2021 semester, August – December 2021. MAC studio hours are Sunday – Saturday, 8:30am-10pm. Classes typically range to 1-2 hours in this department.

Applicants must have a minimum of 3-4 years experience teaching at a community center, public school, arts organization, or academic setting. To apply, please submit a resume and 3 references (professional) to laura.wilde@mesaartscenter.com. Applicant’s resume must clearly demonstrate the required amount of teaching experience in order to be considered for this role.

All applicants who move forward in hiring will be required to undergo a background check and drug test to qualify for employment.

Mesa Arts Center Studios department hires teaching artists on either a contractual basis or through an outside temp agency. This role should be considered seasonal/part-time/temporary and is not benefited. Pay range is $20-$23 an hour plus an addition 15-30 minutes of paid prep time per class. Instructors should be able to offer a minimum of two courses during the week.

Mesa Arts Center Studios Department is seeking a glassblowing teaching artist to provide instruction to students at the beginning and intermediate levels. Candidates should have a thorough knowledge and mastery of glassblowing and 3-4 years teaching experience to adults ages 16+. This individual should demonstrate proficiency in glassblowing techniques, safety requirements, and equipment knowledge. To apply, please submit a resume or CV to Dave.Vogt@mesaartscenter.com. Deadline to apply is 6/1/2021.

Mesa Arts Center Studios Department is seeking a music instructor(s) to provide private instruction in guitar, ukulele, and piano for youth, teens, and adults for the Fall 2021 semester. As well as group music classes for youth (ages 6+). Classes start the week of August 23, 2021, and classes will go on sale in mid-July. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom in late May/early June with the Studios Manager.

The ideal candidate has 3-4 years teaching experience in a public school, community center, or academic setting and has experience working with either youth or adults. The instructor is responsible for setting a curriculum with objectives for learning during an 8-week class period. Classes, either private or group, should cover how to read music, understand notes, proper playing technique, rhythm/melody/counting, and provide individualized guidance each week. Teaching artists are required to undergo a background check and drug test, and provide excellent customer service.

The Mesa Arts Center is the largest arts and cultural venue in the Southwestern United States and provides quality instruction in 14 state of the art studio classrooms. The Art Studios department is comprised of visual, literary, and performing art classes to the public. Mesa Arts Center is owned and operated by the City of Mesa. This position should be considered part-time and will be hired through an outside temp agency. Pay rate is $18-23/hr. with 15-30 minutes of paid prep time per class.

To apply, please send a resume and 3 professional references to Laura Wilde, Studios Manager, laura.wilde@mesaartscenter.com. To learn more, visit mesaartscenter.com

Volunteers

We provide ways for community members to artistically participate in arts activities during festivals and other community events. We are always looking for volunteers to assist in these events. 

To learn how to apply to the Volunteer Program, please click here. 

Interns

Engagement Office Internships 

Interns work directly with artists and staff of the Engagement Office department to create and implement site-specific community arts programming.

Marketing and Public Relations Internships

Internships are a way students can gain professional experience and provide a service in their community. At Mesa Arts Center, interns who work in the marketing department gain experience in marketing, public relations, publicity, social networking, content creation, arts administration and event promotion. Interns become familiar with all of the internal departments of Mesa Arts Center, including Art Studios, Engagement, Festivals and Volunteers, Development/Membership, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and Performing Live. 

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to connect@mesaartscenter.com. Applications are welcome at any time. For more information, click here.

Development Internships

Internships are a way students can gain professional experience and provide a service in their community. At Mesa Arts Center, interns who work in the development department gain experience in donor-ship, non-profit development, fundraising, social networking, content creation, arts administration and event promotion. Interns become familiar with all of the internal departments of Mesa Arts Center, including Art Studios, Engagement, Festivals and Volunteers, Development/Membership, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and Performing Live. 

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to developmentdirector@mesaartscenter.com. Applications are welcome at any time. For more information, click here.

MCA Docents

A Docent is a teacher who serves Mesa Contemporary Arts and the community in the field of art education. Docents are considered key volunteers and extensions of the Mesa Contemporary Arts staff. They provide public and private tours and provide auxiliary security in exhibition areas during special events and opening receptions. Docents attend bi-monthly meetings, which include lectures and workshops on current exhibitions as well as art related field trips. 

To learn how to apply to the Volunteer Program, please click here.

Museum Admissions Attendants

Museum Admissions Attendants are primarily responsible for ensuring a welcoming and positive experience for all visitors to Mesa Contemporary Arts. These volunteers manage the Admissions Desk, handle Point of Sale transactions for museum admissions, greet visitors upon arrival and on the phone, answering general questions and providing friendly customer service to all patrons. For more information, click here to view a complete job description.

To learn how to apply to the Volunteer Program, please click here.

MCA Interns

Internships are a way students can gain professional experience and provide a service in their community. At Mesa Contemporary Arts, interns are an integral part of the staff and assist with all aspects of the museum, including curatorial, objects management, exhibition installation and art education. Interns become familiar with proper museum procedures and expand their knowledge of the profession.

To learn how to apply to the Internship Program, please click here.

Call To Artists

Artists applications are accepted throught the year. 

Please download artist application here.

Mesa Arts Center Creative Economy Fund

Application Deadline is June 12, 2020 at 5:00 pm

As part of a larger initiative to further activate the urban center of Mesa, to increase the growing number and variety of offerings at the Mesa Arts Center (MAC) in downtown Mesa, and to continue to build an environment of creativity and discovery in the downtown district, the CREATIVE ECONOMY FUND in-kind grant program is being continued for a tenth year. The intent of this program is: 1) to provide support to professional and semi-professional organizations who use or wish to use the MAC venues; 2) to bring new cultural offerings to the Mesa and East Valley communities; and 3) to encourage new organizations to experience presenting or producing an event at the MAC, in order to form new partnerships and relationships among and across cultural organizations in the region.

The City of Mesa Department of Arts and Culture CREATIVE ECONOMY FUND will support reduced licensing rates at the Mesa Arts Center for non-profit organizations presenting an arts project, event, activity, workshop or a series of any of the above. Organizations may submit only one application for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Due to the current situation with COVID-19, updates have been made to the application so please read carefully and contact Sarah Goedicke at 480.644.6607 or sarah.goedicke@mesaartscenter.com with any questions. Download the application or fill it out online.

Project Support

Applicants may submit proposals requesting reduction of rental costs for the use of Mesa Arts Center theaters, Studios or Shadow Walk, or Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum lecture hall or courtyard for the purpose of presenting quality arts programs for the Mesa community and region. The proposed projects must take place between October 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A concert or series of concerts
• A theater, dance or spoken word production
• A collaborative or interactive community art project
• A festival
• A workshop or class(es) in the visual or performing arts
• A multidisciplinary project
  
  
  

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be a non-profit, Arizona-based 501(c)(3) organization. While arts and culture organizations are strongly encouraged to apply, other non-profit organizations that are offering arts programming to the public are also welcome to apply. Non-profit organizations whose tax exempt status is pending may apply one time only through a non-profit fiscal sponsor. A letter from the fiscal sponsor must accompany the application.

Examples of activities that fulfill this requirement include workshops, audience talk-backs, lecture-demonstrations, school or community-based performances or outreach activities, discount ticket offers, ticket giveaways to low-income or underserved audiences, and special promotions that reach new audiences, although this is by no means an exhaustive list. Creativity in responding to this requirement is encouraged, and a thoughtful plan will increase the likelihood of receiving support.

Requirements

Amounts requested for licensing reduction may not exceed the total amount being paid in facility licensing fees. Funding awarded to any one organization will not exceed $5,000, and for most applicants is unlikely to exceed $2,500.

The amount requested can cover base license fees only; all production, front-of-house, or ticketing fees that are not included as part of the licensing fee will not be eligible for funding, but must be included as expenses in the project budget. Marketing services will not be provided as part of this support, but all projects taking place at Mesa Arts Center will be included as calendar listings on MAC’s website and promoted on our digital marquees.

As a requirement of the application, you must discuss calendar availability and cost estimates with Mesa Arts Center’s Event Services Coordinator, Jaime Kenney, 480-644-6511 or jaime.kenney@mesaartscenter.com, prior to developing your budget. Please do not wait until the final week for submission to contact Jaime, as she could be out of town, at a conference, or unavailable to do last minute calculations. Once you know your project and have selected a date, contact her immediately.

The events held at the Mesa Arts Center through the Creative Economy Fund cannot be fundraising events or promoted as such by the presenting/producing organization, whether for your own or another organization or cause. Organizations funded agree to acknowledge support from Mesa Arts Center in programs and other means that are feasible and appropriate, such as curtain speeches.

Final Report

For information about the Mesa Arts Center visit mesaartscenter.com. For facility details and licensing fees/information please click on “Visit” and then “Host a Function” then scroll to “Theaters” and finally to “rental rates.

REVIEW CRITERIA

1. Quality of the artistic work to be presented and/or the past artistic work of the applicant organization or its presentations.
2. Length or scope of the engagement or activity, and any indication of interest or intention to develop an ongoing relationship with the Mesa Arts Center.
3. Extent to which the project provides new or different experiences to the community, meets a community need, or provides an experience or cultural opportunity in which the community has indicated an interest/need/desire.
4. Quality and likely impact of any proposed education, outreach/engagement programs, or audience development activities.
5. Soundness of the plan for the proposed project and the likelihood of success. Ability of the organization to meet the stated objectives of the project, as shared by the applicant in the application.

All applicants are encouraged to include audience engagement/audience development activities as part of their project, which will be considered in rating criteria number 4 above.

Application Process

Please fill out the online application form and upload the required additional documents.

You are also welcome to use the Word version of the form to email or mail. Please make sure to include the additional required documents.

BY MAIL to:

Creative Economy Fund
Office of the Director
Mesa Arts Center
PO Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211-1466

BY EMAIL to:

sarah.goedicke@mesaartscenter.com

APPLICATION DEADLINE, REVIEW PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION

June 12, 2020 (by 5:00 p.m.)

Application due date

June 22-26, 2020
Applications reviewed by a community panel; recommendations made

June 23, 2020
Recommendations are reviewed and endorsed by the Museum and Cultural Advisory Board

By July 31, 2020
Applicants are notified of the outcome of their proposal

June 30, 2021
Projects must be completed

July 31, 2021
2019-20 Final Report due

QUESTIONS? Contact Sarah Goedicke at 480-644-6607 or sarah.goedicke@mesaartscenter.com. Sarah will answer your questions or set up a phone appointment to discuss your application and provide any needed guidance.

Are you interested in having your educational or arts organization perform on one of the beautiful world-class stages at the Mesa Arts Center? Would you enjoy a day or night in the spotlight? If so, then consider applying for a Mesa Arts Center Foundation (MACF) grant awarded via the popular Arts at the Center Program.

Up to six Arts at the Center grant recipients are chosen each year to present a theater, dance, music or other types of creative performance on one of MAC’s stages. Theater seating can accommodate from 100 to 1,500 attendees, depending upon your needs. 

And the best part? An Arts at the Center grant allows presenters to (1) have the facilities rental fee waived and (2) receive up to $1,000 in financial support to offset some of the related production costs.

Arts at the Center grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 
There are still openings available and application for performance opportunities is strongly encouraged. 

For more information and to download an application, click here.