Volunteers

Thank you for your interest in the Celtic Colours
 International Festival volunteer program.

Our festival could not operate without the dedication and long hours provided 
by over 1,700 volunteers. For your effort you get an opportunity to be part 
of an amazing and exciting event. You will experience the creative energy 
of 400 performers and know that you have been right in the heart of action.
 Our audience knows the excitement very well and, like so many of our 
volunteers, comes back year after year. You will also have the satisfaction
 of contributing to an event that brings more than $6 million into the local
 economy every year.

We have two categories of volunteers at Celtic Colours:

1) Community Volunteers - work in their own community with a hosting 
organization either for a concert venue or a community cultural event. If your
 community is hosting an event, they may need your help. Please contact them directly.

2) Festival Volunteers – work throughout the festival in a wide variety of 
roles as drivers or at concert venues under the direction of the festival staff 
or experienced volunteers. If you are interested and available to be a festival 
volunteer, the following information should help you decide what you would
 like to do.

Types of Positions Available:

1. Site and Stage Management

All of our concert venues require Site Managers and Stage Managers. These
 are highly skilled positions, but have always been carried out by volunteers.

In general, site managers are responsible for all aspects of the audience and 
the venue and work directly with the community hosting committee. Stage 
managers are responsible for everything to do with the show and the stage.
 They work directly with the artists and technicians. Site and Stage managers
 must work together on some aspects of the event. Strong and positive
 communication skills are essential for both positions.

Both Site and Stage positions require the volunteer to have experience in 
customer service or working with the general public. Stage positions also
 benefit from previous experience with music events and/or musicians.
 Both require volunteers to have participated in training or professional 
development workshops provided by Celtic Colours. Volunteering as a site or
 stage manager is a commitment of at least an 8 hour day, sometimes more
 depending on the venue and distances for driving. Site and stage managers 
must be on site one hour before sound checks begin and stay until their work 
is completed after the show.

We also have apprenticeship roles for Assistant Stage and Assistant Site 
positions for people who are new to our system. If you would like to
 volunteer in a Site or Stage Management position and have not done so 
before you must attend the training sessions in September and understand 
that first year Site or Stage Management volunteers can only serve as
assistants. The basic training and Professional Development workshops for 
2011 will take place on September 10th at the Gaelic College.

If you have attended a Site or Stage Manager training session in the past 
and have served as a Site or Stage Manager or assistant we request that 
you upgrade your knowledge by attending the advanced Professional
 Development workshops on September 10th. These are on very specific topics 
in areas that may help you develop new skills.

To learn more about the Site and Stage management job descriptions please 
download the documents available at the bottom of this page. You will need
 to complete the 2011 Volunteer Application Form to begin the process. This
 year we are also requiring all previous volunteers to complete the form so
 that we have accurate and consistent information in our database.

Contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator Jim MacDonald at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 562-6700

2. Transportation / Drivers

Contact Blair or Gerardette Brown - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. Emcees

Contact our Artistic Director, Joella Foulds ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or by phone at the Celtic Colours office - 562-6700

4. Casual Positions

Casual positions require no specific training. The majority of our shows do 
not require casual volunteers because the community hosting organizations
 provide all of the volunteers at the venue. However there are a few of
 our larger shows such as those in Sydney and Port Hawkesbury that do 
require help with ushering, handing out programs and taking ballots. Casual
 opportunities also exist at other Festival events including the late night 
Festival Club and the Volunteer Reception. Help is also appreciated in the 
office leading up to and during Festival time with tasks like assembling Site
 and Stage kits, getting volunteers ready for shows and answering phones.

- Festival Club

The Festival Club occurs each night of the Festival from 11PM - 3AM at the
 Gaelic College in St Ann's. The volunteer roles there include selling tickets
 at the door, selling bar tickets and working in the bar. The Festival Club 
volunteers are generally people who live in the immediate vicinity of the
 Gaelic College and they are scheduled and supervised by the staff at the
 Gaelic College.

- Archie Neil Stage

The Archie Neil Stage is a youth showcase that takes place in Baddeck on
 the first weekend of the festival. This year it will be held at the Masonic Hall 
from 2:00 to 4:00 on Saturday, Oct. 8th and Monday, Oct. 10th. It provides
 an opportunity for young Celtic musicians, singers and dancers to perform

- Volunteer Reception

Prior to the "A Taste of the Festival" Concert on Saturday, October 8th we 
have a reception to show our thanks to our volunteers and community 
hosting organizations. We require volunteers to assist with tasks like
 checking coats, taking tickets, giving directions, etc. We will also require 
help decorating for the reception during the day leading up to the reception.

Documents to Download:

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