NoCo Volunteer Application Logo

  • Volunteer Application

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  • Thank you for your interest in volunteering with The Novelty Collective! Our community is a beautifully diverse intersection of artists & art appreciators with unique gifts, life experiences, & backgrounds, whom we are proud to serve through a number of different programs and events.

    Because we serve such a wide demographic, we have several opportunities available for you to get involved! Please review the set of roles & requirements for each position carefully, & do not hesitate to reach out with any inquiries you have along the way. Take your time & answer each question thoroughly. We will reach out with next step once you have completed the application.

    Thanks again!

  • Choose Your Own Adventure

    NoCo offers a variety of programs & events all year long. How will you choose to join us?

  • So many options…

    Read through each event description & its respective roles carefully, but don't be overwhelmed! The next page is designed to give you a glimpse of what you can expect when you sign up to be a part of our team. Once you are approved for a volunteer position, it's our job to give you clear guidance & set you up for success!

    You may select as many volunteer positions as you are interested in—there is no limit!

  • – Programs –

    • Afterschool 

    • Afterschool

      Our drop-in arts program for local middle school & high school students is all about making space for young people to find freedom in creative expression through experimentation, peer-to-peer learning, & hands-on training by adult leaders. We also take time out of each day to study the Bible in a question-friendly environment. The mission of Afterschool is to encourage creative pursuits & deepen the faith of the students living in our community.

      Afterschool Leader

      Our Leaders make Afterschool a fun & welcoming environment for our students. They bring positive energy & a readiness to fully engage with program participants each day they serve. Leaders are full of integrity, kind, helpful, patient, respectful, supportive, eager to listen, & quick to adapt.

      Afterschool Leaders must commit to work one day of Afterschool per week

      Art Teacher

      Art Teachers are not only skilled in their craft, but also have the ability to train others with little to no experience. They can balance verbal instruction & demonstration while showing patience for those who need special attention along the way.

      Bible Teacher

      Bible Teachers are very familiar with the scripture & able to communicate what it says in language a child will understand. They are well-prepared for lessons but ready to engage in open dialogue about related topics when students need additional context to understand what they are learning.

      Art & Bible Teachers may choose to come once as a guest - or - commit to deliver lessons once per week

    • *Art Teachers: Please indicate which creative medium(s) you are interested in teaching when you reach the Experience portion of the application.

    • Afterschool takes place every week during the school year (except on holidays), Monday - Thursday, 2:00pm - 6:00pm

    • Open Studios 

    • Open Studios

      There are endless obstacles to hold us back from exercising our creativity. Open Studios exists to remove some common barriers that stifle artistic expression & provide opportunities for our adult population to create, to connect, & to grow. Workshops offer additional chances to learn new skills through group instruction.

      Coordinator

      Coordinators work with NoCo Staff to plan & prepare Open Studios. They lead & host the program from setup to tear down. Coordinators are responsible for creating an environment of welcome, facilitating connection between participants, & helping artists find what they need to create.

      Coordinators must arrive at least one hour before the event & remain until break down is complete

      Workshop Instructor

      Workshop Instructors have honed their creative skills, & they are ready to pass their knowledge on to others. They come prepared with a lesson plan & any special art supplies they will use or distribute for the class.

      Workshop Instructors may choose to come once as a guest - or - work with NoCo Staff to support ongoing classes

    • *Workshop Instructors: please indicate which creative medium(s) you are interested in teaching when you reach the Experience portion of the application.

    • Open Studios occurs every fourth Saturday of the month, 11:00am - 5:00pm

    • Summer Arts Day Camp 

    • Summer Arts Day Camp

      While Afterschool is on summer break, we hold two weeks of art classes during the month of July. Week One is focused entirely on Visual Arts, & Week Two is all about Performing Arts. From whittling to violin lessons, we invite teachers to share their creative talents with two to five students for one hour a day. Each week of camp culminates in an Student Art Showcase event open to the families & friends of our young artists.

      Camp days are separated into blocks. Students are given thirty minutes to grab a snack, catch up with their friends, & ready themselves before their first class begins. Between the first & second class, we bring everyone together for a short Bible lesson.

      Art Teacher

      Art Teachers are adept creators & with exceptional communication skills. They are able to share the basic concepts of their craft with a small but diverse group of students & guide each participant to a finished product or performance within four collective hours. Art Teachers prioritize total group participation, understanding, & satisfaction over perfection.

      Art Teachers must commit to instruct at least four, one-hour classes during four consecutive days of camp & help at one Student Art Showcase; teachers must arrive thirty minutes prior to class start time

      Bible Teacher

      Bible Teachers are versed in scripture & know how to interpret its contents for young people in a group setting. They plan & prepare lessons with the help of the Executive Director & come ready with teaching tools, object lessons, & other interactive devices for Day Camp Bible lessons.

      Bible Teachers may choose to come once as a guest - or - commit to deliver one week of lessons

    • Visual Arts week will take place July 14 - 18
      Performing Arts week will take place on July 21- 26

      Classes are Monday - Thursday, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
      Student Art Showcases are Fridays between 6:00pm - 9:00pm (exact times TBD)

      *Art Teachers: please indicate which creative medium(s) you are interested in teaching when you reach the Experience portion of the application.

      Select which week(s) & time block(s) you would like to teach, referring to the schedule below:

      Schedule Format:

      Block A Block B Block C Block D
      2:00pm - 2:30pm 2:30pm - 3:30pm 3:30pm - 4:00pm 4:00pm - 5:00pm
      Gathering Time Class 1 Break/Lesson Class 3
        Class 2   Class 4
    •  

    • – Events –

    • NoCo Fest 

    • The Novelty Collective Music & Arts Festival

      NoCo Fest is our biggest event of the year & the greatest opportunity to experience what our community is all about. Visual artists, makers, bands, poets, & singer-songwriters from Pittsburgh & all over the country come to The COVE Art Center to share their talents with the hundreds of people who attend.

      Hospitality Team Member

      The Hospitality Team is the face of The Novelty Collective during NoCo Fest. They greet attendees, check up on participating artists, & create an atmosphere of welcome for everyone at the event. Hospitality Team Members understand our mission & represent the organization in all their interactions. The welcome table at the front doors & the entrances to each area of the festival are key areas for the team. Visual Artists are able rely on Hospitality Team members to watch their tables when they need a break, & performers can expect help with unloading & toting heavy gear. No guest or artist feels lost, stuck, or out of place at NoCo Fest while our amazing Hospitality Team is present.

      Hospitality Team Members must arrive at NoCo Fest at least one hour before the event begins & stay each day until the event ends

      Set-Up & Break-Down Team Member

      Our Set-Up & Break-Down Team help make sure each area of the festival is ready when the event begins & completely cleared when the event comes to an end. Set up includes arranging vendor tables & chairs in The COVE, moving sound equipment & other gear into music performance areas, placing directional signs on the walls, organizing the welcome table, hanging NoCo banners, & other important tasks.

      Set up may require team members to come in at different times during the week leading up to NoCo Fest; exact dates & times flexible
      Set-Up & Break-Down Team members must arrive at least two hours before the event begins & remain until dismissed by NoCo Staff

       

    • NoCo Fest 2025 takes place from November 21 -22

    • Mother's Day Art Market 

    • Mother's Day Art Market

      We celebrate the creative moms in our community by inviting them to share their artwork at The COVE right before Mother's Day. Locals come to purchase hand-made gifts & attend art workshops during this all-day event.

      Coordinator

      Coordinators work with NoCo Staff to plan & prepare the Mother's Day Art Market. They direct the Hospitality Team, announce Workshop times, & host the event from setup to tear down. Coordinators represent The Novelty Collective well in the way they lead & emcee the art market.

      Coordinators must arrive at the Mother's Day Art Market at least one hour before start time & remain until break down is complete

      Hospitality Team Member

      The Hospitality Team is the face of NoCo at our Mother's Day Art Market. They greet attendees, check up on vendors, & create an atmosphere of welcome for everyone at the event. Hospitality Team Members understand our mission & represent the organization in all their interactions. The welcome table at the front entrance is their top priority. Hospitality Team members to watch their tables when they need a break, & performers can expect help with unloading & toting heavy gear. No guest or artist feels lost, stuck, or out of place at NoCo Fest while our amazing Hospitality Team is present.

      Hospitality Team Members must arrive at least one hour before the event begins & stay remain until the event ends

      Workshop Instructors

      Workshop Instructors excel at creating & teaching at the same time in medium-to-large group settings. They can deliver clear & concise instructions in a noisy, fast-paced environment & deliver a clean, finished product by the end of their lesson.

      Workshop Instructors must arrive at least one hour before their class is scheduled & remain until their workshop area is cleared

    • *Workshop Instructors: please indicate which creative medium(s) you are interested in teaching when you reach the Experience portion of the application.

    • Mother's Day Art Market will take place on a Saturday in May 2026; exact date & times TBD

    • Audiofeed Fest 

    • Audiofeed Festival (Urbana, IL)

      Audiofeed is a family-oriented music & arts festival in Illinois. Hundreds of performers, speakers, & vendors from all over the nation have been gathering to share their gifts with this robust DIY community for over ten years. The Novelty Collective has been given the privilege of managing Audiofeed's visual arts market.

      Hospitality Team Member

      Our Hospitality Team not only represents the vision & mission of The Novelty Collective, but also upholds that of Audiofeed. Team members are alert & present inside the NoCo Art Market during of operation, providing table coverage for NoCo Staff & attending to the needs of art vendors. They welcome market patrons, answer questions about NoCo & Audiofeed, & help to maintain the cleanliness & accessibility of the space.

      Hospitality Team Members must commit to work at least two days of Audiofeed Festival

      Workshop Instructor

      Workshop instructors excel at creating & teaching at the same time in small-to-medium group settings. They can deliver clear & concise instructions in a noisy, fast-paced environment & deliver a clean, finished product by the end of their lesson.

      Workshop Instructors must arrive at least one half hour before their class is scheduled & remain until their workshop area is cleared

    • *Workshop Instructors: please indicate which creative medium(s) you are interested in teaching when you reach the Experience portion of the application.

    • Audiofeed Fest will take place over Independence Day weekend in 2026

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    • – After Hours –

    • Space Maker 

    • Space Maker

      There are endless ways to help when The COVE Art Center is quiet & empty. We always need volunteers who are interested in helping us make our space better. From simple cleaning tasks to organizing studio supplies, our work behind the scenes is what makes all of The Novelty Collective's programs & events possible!

    • After Hours help will be coordinated between the Executive Director & the volunteer

    • Up Next…

      Now that we know how you are interested in serving, tell us a little more about yourself!

  • Personal Information

  • Emergency Contact

  • Background

  • Education

  • Occupation

  • Resume

    Upload your Resume or CV here. This is OPTIONAL!
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  • References

    Please provide three professional / character references.

  • References are encouraged but not required, unless you are applying for Afterschool as a Leader or Bible Teacher.

    • Reference 1 

    • Reference 1

    • Reference 2 

    • Reference 2

    • Reference 3 

    • Reference 3

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  • Experience

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  • Qualifications

    Certain volunteer positions may require varying types & degrees of experience. However, a lack of experience in any particular area does not act as an automatic disqualifier.

    Whether or not you are applying for a position that directly involves The Arts, Working With Children, or Faith, we ask that you complete all sections on this page of the form to the best of your ability.

    (There is no need to add social media profiles or exmples of your artwork if you have nothing you would like to share.)

    • The Arts 

    • The Arts

      In what ways do you like to express your creativity?
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    • Working With Children 

    • Working With Children

    • Faith 

    • Faith

      We want to know a little more about your background & your relationship with God. Please don't feel too pressured with these questions; you are free to be honest about where you are at in your spiritual journey. If you would like to skip this section, you may.
    • Other Interests & Relevant Experience 

    • Other Interests

      What other activities or skills would you like to share with us?

    • Other Relevant Experience

  • Network

    Networking is kind of our thing.

  • We want to know how you got connected to The Novelty Collective so we can continue to improve on how we connect with others in the communtiy. The Novelty Collective has something for everyone, regardless of age, ability, belief, gender, background, socioeconomic status, or identity. Learn more about it on our website!

    After these final questions, take a moment to review your application before you tap submit!

  • Referrals

  • If you know anyone who might be interested in volunteering for The Novelty Collective, please have them contact us via our website or email us at contact@thenoveltycollective.org.

    With their express permission, you may add their contact information below:

  • It's Over!

    Thank you for completing our volunteer application! If you are unsure about any of your answers, please take a moment to review your answers now. After you submit this form, we will reach out with our decision & next steps.
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