Happy National Volunteer Week!

This week we are celebrating our amazing volunteers- all the people who greet you as you enter the gallery and work behind the scenes to make things happen.

In 2023, 81 individuals contributed a total of 1,008.75 hours to the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. That is a lot of hours from a lot of people, and we don’t take any of that for granted. We want to take this week to highlight and thank you!

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Why Volunteers Are Important

Volunteers are an important part of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and of the health and vitality of our entire community. All organizations that utilize volunteers will tell you that they are absolutely vital, a key component to the heart of the organization. The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is no different. We are only able to operate with the help of volunteers; and we think we have some of the best.

We have gallery docents who have been with us for YEARS, taking a regular weekly spot at the desk, displaying a consistency and devotion to the arts that blows us away. We have Peninsula College sport teams and Associated Student Council groups who act as incredible neighbors by annually helping with woods clean ups. We have steadfast individuals who put in work every week towards maintaining the trails and sculptures. And of course, volunteers who are eager and willing to help with events so that others can enjoy.

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To all of our volunteers

Dear Volunteers,

The time and talents that you share mean the world to each of us on staff, but more than that, you make things possible. There is no free entrance to the gallery without you. Webster’s Woods gets overgrown with you. There are no free festivals without you to manage the activity stations. Thank you for being an integral part of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.

From covering the desk at the gallery to keeping Webster’s Woods beautiful to cleaning up tents and tables after festivals (even in the mud and rain!)- YOU ARE INCREDIBLE.

Each contribution you make is such a gift to the PAFAC. Thank you for all that you do to support our mission of connecting people to the arts.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Giving Back

As a part of this community, we are also committed to contributing when we can to support our fellow organizations and non-profits. Last year, our staff took a day to volunteer for the Winter Ice Village in downtown Port Angeles. In addition to having a great time showing off our skating skills and getting to sip on hot chocolate, we were happy to support the work of the Port Angeles Chamber to bring that joyful activity to our downtown.

A few years ago, PAFAC staff members were able to help with the building of the Dream Playground. Tragically, a fire in December of 2023 destroyed most of that structure. We are excited to be a part of the community effort to rebuild the Dream Playground at the upcoming Volunteer Days. You’ll find us there on May 16th, but if you’d like to volunteer there are spots from May 15th – 19th. Volunteer for the Dream Playground rebuild!

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Get Involved

Did you know that volunteers help us hang lights in the woods before Wintertide? Or that the addition of two storage sheds was completely done by volunteers? Or that it was volunteers who helped us finish our archive of Esther Webster’s artwork? Or that we’re lucky to utilize peoples’ skills from photography to construction to trail work to cleaning to customer service to gardening?

If you would like to get involved, please check out the list of upcoming opportunities below or check the Volunteer page on the website.

• Gravel Spreading– Tuesday, April 23rd | 10am-1pm

We will be receiving a pile of gravel to refresh the courtyard and are looking for a few people to help with shoveling and spreading it. This will be a physically demanding task. With a few extra hands we are hoping to finish the job in a few hours.

Email Rachel if you’d like to help with gravel- rachel@pafac.org

• Webster’s Woods Clean Up day! Wednesday, May 22nd | 3pm-6pm

Each spring we organize a work day to clean up Webster’s Woods and try to gather as many people as possible to accomplish this spring cleaning. This will include picking up trash, trimming foliage, moving debris, weeding, moving/deinstalling sculpture. If you can join for even just one hour, that would be great! This will be another day of physical labor- with varying levels of difficulty.

HELP IN WEBSTER’S WOODS

• Summertide Festival– Saturday, June 15th

I know June *seems* far away, but it will sneak up quickly! If you are able to help with any of the various tasks for festival prep, take down, or during the event- that will ensure that we have a smooth and safe event for staff and participants.

SIGN UP FOR SUMMERTIDE