The AGH’s Tourism Ambassadors help welcome the over 150,000 visitors who experience the Art Gallery of Hamilton annually and assist with the Gallery’s growing group tour segment.

What do Tourism Ambassadors do?
Under the supervision of the Manager, Marketing and the volunteer liaison, volunteers:

Staff the Welcome desk, distributing tourism brochures, maps and guides and answering questions about the Gallery and other attractions in the city

Accompany Docents on larger adult group tours, assisting guests as required

Welcome and direct visitors, answer questions, and distribute event-specific literature for events such as First Fridays, Doors Open and Celebrate Hamilton weekends

What level of commitment is expected?
Tourism Ambassadors are expected to commit to a minimum of TWO Welcome Desk shifts per month. Desk shifts are typically two hours in length. In order to accommodate busy schedules, you may pick your shift any time during Gallery hours. Please give at least one week notice to the Tourism Ambassador Coordinator when requesting schedule changes.

Tourism Ambassadors should also attend one First Friday every three months (First Fridays are the first Friday of each month from 5:00 – 9:00 pm).

Accompanying group tours is also an important – and enjoyable – component of this volunteer position, as Tourism Ambassadors assist Docents (our volunteer tour guides) with large groups, and get to learn about the exhibitions on view at the same time. We generally know about large group tour visits at least two or three weeks ahead of time, but from time to time, we do receive last minute requests for group visits. The majority of group visits takes place on weekdays between the months of September to November and March to May.

What skills are required for this position?
Tourism Ambassadors must enjoy meeting people and be able to communicate clearly and proficiently in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset. Ambassadors will do some walking when accompanying tours, and sit behind the Welcome Desk. They also distribute brochures, maps and guides, so good manual dexterity is required.

How do I become a Volunteer?
Please return to the main Volunteering webpage and following the instructions for the Volunteer Application.
Note: To be a volunteer at the AGH, you are required to become a member. For more information about membership, click here.