Volunteer
Indian Market Volunteers come to Santa Fe every year from throughout the United States to assist the SWAIA organization in carrying out the annual Indian Market and its other events. Approximately 575 volunteers fill close to 1,000 positions over a four day period. The volunteers come to see old friends, make new friends and to learn more about the artists, their artwork, and the other volunteer opportunities SWAIA has to offer.
The excitement begins with the Receiving of Art Work from SWAIA artists on Thursday. The Sweeney Convention Center is filled to the brim with high quality art. On Friday, volunteer judges who are experts in various art classifications, participate in the vital process of selecting the award winning artwork. Friday night's Preview of the Award Winning Art brings volunteers and members of SWAIA together to celebrate the evening's festivities. This event features a Poster Signing and Sneak Preview Reception, Membership and Merchandise sales and the notable Silent Auction. The high energy of the Saturday night's Live Auction event allows volunteers to be part of a prestigious evening that features higher end artwork from well-known artists and live music.
The exhilaration continues on Saturday and Sunday as Indian Market occurs, the world's largest American Indian art market in world! Close to 1,000 Native American artists from throughout the United States exhibit and sell their art work in over 600 booths set on and around the Santa Fe Plaza. Volunteers take part in selling merchandise, soft drinks, memberships, and handing out SWAIA information.
Come and enjoy the excitement! Become a volunteer and learn more about the artists, their art work and find out what being an Indian Market volunteer is all about!
For more information contact us at:
Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Inc. (SWAIA)
PO Box 969
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0969
Phone: 505.983.5220
Fax: 505.983.7647
E-mail: volunteer@swaia.org
SWAIA greatly appreciates your help and interest in preparing for the 88th Indian Market 2009. Much of the success of Market depends on your assistance!
Santa Fe Indian Market 2009
General Volunteer Information
Thank you for volunteering for this year's 88th annual Santa Fe Indian Market. We couldn't do it without you! Please review the following information, as there have been several changes this year:
1. Volunteer Aprons & Badges: Due to limited supply, only one apron per volunteer will be provided (please see your assignment letter for coupon.) Please wear your apron for the entirety of your shift, as this is an important security means of identifying official volunteers. Security concerns also necessitate that volunteer Badges be worn. Badges will be color-coded according to your specific assignment and will grant you entrance to only your assigned Market activity. Aprons and badges will be provided at check-in.
2. Volunteer Gift: In gratitude for your generous volunteer service, SWAIA is providing two gift options for 2009 Volunteers: one 2009 Indian Market T-shirt of your choice (out of five designs and colors) OR a $10 voucher to go toward any 2009 Indian Market Merchandise item of your choice. If you choose the voucher option, please bring extra money along for any purchases you wish to make that exceed the value of the voucher. Unfortunately, credit will not be issued if you choose to purchase an item of lesser value than the voucher. Due to a limited supply of merchandise, only one t-shirt/voucher per volunteer can be issued, regardless of number of assignments worked. Merchandise will be available on Thursday and Friday at the Convention Center, as well as at the Official Indian Market Merchandise Booths on Saturday and Sunday. (Please see your assignment letter for coupon.)
3. Santa Fe Convention Center (Thursday, Friday, early Sat. assignments): This year we are excited to return (after a difficult three year hiatus due to construction) to the Santa Fe Convention Center at 201 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The Convention Center is a beautiful, spacious, air-conditioned space that will help us to display Market artwork in the best possible manner. We are also pleased that it will be a pleasant work environment for our Volunteers. Volunteer check-in will be in the main lobby of the Convention Center. As noted above in "Volunteer Aprons & Badges are required by Convention Center Security for entrance into all Convention Center activities. Trainings will be provided onsite prior to the start of all activities. Because Convention Center volunteer activities have day-long shifts, light meals will be provided courtesy of SWAIA. For parking information, please see below.
4. Indian Market General Volunteers (Saturday & Sunday): Volunteer check-in will be located on the Plaza at the Information/Volunteer/Artist Services tent (please see map.) Badges will be provided at check-in and light refreshments will be provided during the day at the check-in location. Please note: we will not have a Volunteer Tent at Cathedral Park this year. For volunteers working a full-day (two four-hour shifts) we will provide lunch vouchers at check-in. For parking information, please see below.
5. Gala Volunteers (Saturday Evening): Gala Volunteer check-in will be on the Mezzanine at the La Fonda Hotel at 100 E. San Francisco Street, right off the Santa Fe Plaza. A light dinner will be provided. For parking information, please see below.
6. VOLUNTEER PARKING:
Thursday Volunteers (Santa Fe Convention Center): SWAIA has negotiated with the City of Santa Fe Free Parking at the Fort Marcy Complex with a Free Shuttle Service to the Center from 5:45am to 6:00pm. Parking is also available at the Convention Center Garage for $9.00 for the day.
Friday Volunteers (Santa Fe Convention Center): Free Parking will once again be at the Fort Marcy Complex with a Free Shuttle Service to the Center from 5:45am to 9:30pm (see above.) Parking is also available at the Convention Center Garage for $9.00 for the day.
Saturday & Sunday Indian Market Volunteers: Unfortunately, and with deepest regret, we were unable to negotiate volunteer parking with the City of Santa for these days. Free Public Parking is available at the large NM State Perea Building Parking Lot on Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail, about a 5 block walk to the Plaza on a first come first serve basis. See Shuttles below for additional transportation options.
7. Handicap Parking: Handicap parking will be available free of charge at the Convention Center Parking Garage which provides full ADA access to the Center on Thursday and Friday and at all City of Santa Fe Parking Lots for Saturday and Sunday.
8. Shuttles: Santa Fe Trails Bus Service will run Shuttles from Santa Fe Place (formerly Villa Linda Mall) on the South-side of town, and from DeVargas Mall on the North-side of Santa Fe on only Saturday and Sunday of Indian Market. Parking is free in these lots and the shuttle round trip tickets cost $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for Seniors (60+) & Youth (5-17). Please call Santa Fe Trails at 505-955-2001 to confirm shuttle schedules.
9. Personal Belongings: Because of liability issues, SWAIA asks that you refrain from bringing any personal belongings to your Volunteer shift that are not easily storable on your person. SWAIA does not have secure storage space for purses, backpacks or packages and is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings.
10. Personal Jewelry: Many of the volunteer positions require proximity to valuable artwork. For liability reasons, we ask that you not wear large, dangly jewelry during your volunteer shift due to possible damage to the art work.
11. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for your shift: This gives you time to check-in and get oriented and trained before you start your shift. However, for high Volunteer-volume activities such as Art Receiving, Judging, and Preview, we ask that these Volunteers arrive 15-20 minutes early to ensure complete check-in prior to required training sessions.
12. Let us know if you cannot make it: If you cannot work your assigned shift - for whatever reason - we ask that you call us and let us know as soon as possible at (505) 983-5220: ask for Cheryl or Gomeo.
13. Walk-In Volunteer Positions: We will have a few walk-in assignments available onsite. However, due to security issues, walk-in volunteers cannot be accommodated for the following activities: Receiving, Judging, Preview, and Gala. If you know someone who is interested in volunteering, please call the SWAIA office ahead of time to ask where help is needed most. Please call Cheryl or Gomeo at (505) 983-5220 for assistance.
14. Volunteer Check-Out: Please notify your Volunteer Team Leader if you need to leave your assignment early. It is essential that we have full coverage for your assignment area for the times listed on your assignment letter. Volunteer Chairs and Team Leaders are responsible for releasing volunteers at the end of shifts once all work has been completed.
15. SWAIA Artists, Members, Customers, Visitors Come First: During your shift, you are an official representative of SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market. We ask all of our Volunteers to maintain the highest level of professional courtesy, promptness and attention to customer service that Indian Market's numerous constituents have come to expect. While we want our Volunteers to be comfortable, please refrain from activities like excessive chatting that might interfere with your attention to customers, artists or members. We rely on our Volunteers to leave all those involved with a positive and informed impression of Indian Market's importance to Native arts and culture.
16. Conflict Management: If a fellow Volunteer is doing or saying something that seems inappropriate, please tell a SWAIA Staff person immediately. For liability reasons, we ask that you refrain from confronting another Volunteer on your own. While we view the diversity of professional background, training and expertise possessed by our Volunteers as an invaluable asset, these differences can sometimes manifest onsite as conflict of opinion, work style or communication. Because we depend on a whole community of Volunteers to make Indian Market a resounding success, we ask you to maintain the highest level of professionalism in your interactions with other Volunteers. Being considerate, attentive and friendly goes a long way in facilitating a greater understanding of the value of Indian Market.
17. No Smoking is Allowed in Any SWAIA Volunteer Activity: If you do smoke, please do so in an area where other volunteers, artists, and visitors are not exposed to the smoke.
18. If Something Bad Happens: We rarely have problems, but if there is an accident, a customer tries to shoplift, an artist is displeased with a booth assignment, a guest acts inappropriately, etc., find a SWAIA Staff Person or your Team Leader immediately. We have security onsite at the Convention Center, and the Santa Fe Police Department and Paramedic Units will be on the northeast corner of the Plaza. Also, you may call Cheryl on her cell phone at 505-577-9095 and she will radio for assistance.
19. Enjoy the Market! Over 100,000 visitors come to Santa Fe specifically for SWAIA's Indian Market. Help them enjoy the world's most prestigious Native American arts show and take the time to discover it yourself!
Internships*
SWAIA can offer a wide variety of rich experiences within the non-profit, Native American art, AND events fields. Opportunities exist for interns to assist with development, programming, event management, assessment, and/or special projects. These can provide the intern invaluable experience for future employment, and/or studies within the field.
Internships will be handled within the parameters set by both the intern's sponsoring organization, and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. For more information, please contact SWAIA directly at 505-983-5220 or volunteer@swaia.org.