Volunteering
Learn, share, contribute, make a difference!
Make a difference to your community, to the arts, and to yourself. Get involved in the ongoing excitement and growth of the MFA.
Volunteers perform a broad range of functions in a variety of departments across the Museum. From greeting and assisting visitors at public programs and events to database maintenance and assistance in clerical or administrative work, volunteers work alongside and in support of staff to further the mission of offering art to everyone.
Each volunteer opportunity is different—with its own unique set of responsibilities and therefore requiring its own unique mix of relevant skills and experience. Many volunteer opportunities do not require an art background, and each department will provide job-specific training to the selected volunteer. Prospective volunteers should be enthusiastic, flexible, and willing to learn new things.
Please read each description carefully before applying for those opportunities which call for the combination of skills, experience, and interest that most closely matches your own.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities are posted only as departments determine they have need of volunteer help. Therefore, you are encouraged to visit this page often since it can be updated without notice.
See current volunteer opportunities
Internships
Exciting internship opportunities at the Museum are available seasonally in the fall, spring, and summer in a broad range of disciplines.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Unfortunately, we do not offer any teen-specific volunteer opportunities. Volunteer opportunities at the MFA are designed to provide long-term, ongoing support to the operations of the Museum. Therefore, we do not offer short-term volunteer opportunities which accommodate or satisfy the variety of volunteer/intern/service learning/job-shadow/community service requirements of many high schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a volunteer at the MFA?
Begin by reviewing the descriptions listed in Open Volunteer Positions. Next complete and submit the online volunteer application. (To submit a resume, attach it as a Word document to an e-mail sent to: volunteer@mfa.org.) You will receive acknowledgement of receipt of your application within four business days. Please note: due to the volume of applications received, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Note: volunteer opportunities at the MFA become available based on departments’ needs, and therefore are published as opportunities arise. Please visit this page often to learn of changes in need for volunteers.
How much time is required of volunteers?
While each volunteer opportunity is unique in its work and time requirement, most require a minimum of 3–5 hours per week on a consistent basis for at least nine to twelve months.
Are volunteers required to attend an orientation?
Museum policy requires that all new volunteers engage in in-depth training and attend an orientation before beginning their work-specific training and before receiving their ID/security badge. This orientation introduces the volunteer to Museum-wide policies and procedures related to volunteering at the MFA.
What are the benefits of volunteering at the MFA?
- Participation in an exciting and dynamic atmosphere
- Discounts related to various dining, retail, and Museum programs at the MFA
- Admission to select greater Boston cultural institutions