The Holburne works with more than 250 volunteers throughout the year. They welcome all visitors to the museum every day, introducing our permanent collection and our ever-changing temporary exhibitions, encouraging lively discussion within the galleries, and offering a warm and friendly welcome to all those who pass through. As a team, the volunteers collectively give more than 37,000 hours of their time to support the Holburne’s work. Over the years the teams have created social and support groups among themselves, making the Holburne not just a collection of objects but also a community of people.
As the Holburne extends its footprint with two new galleries, we are looking for new people to join our vibrant community. Volunteering at the Holburne is open to everyone from any background. All you need is a bit of curiosity and a good sense of fun.
Some of our volunteers have had incredible careers, and some are right at the start of theirs. Sharing experiences and stories has become the backbone of the volunteering experience at the Holburne, and helped shape an inclusive environment for all.
Let’s introduce just a few of the women behind the welcome…
Candy
I’ve been in book publishing since I left university. I started working for well-known publishing houses such as Faber & Faber and Penguin. Now I am a self-employed literary agent, and I still run a small packaging business which I set up with my husband. We make books on American subjects, mainly nonfiction, from art to the American Civil War. One of our more popular titles has sold 950,000 copies.
I attend books fairs in London and Frankfurt, and on the literary agent side I am selling books into Europe, which tend to focus on lifestyle, interior decorating, crafts, gardening and pets.
My son attended the University of Bath and when my husband became ill, we moved down to Bath to be able to spend more time together as a family. That was 8 years ago.
I became a frequent visitor to the Holburne and was always taken by how friendly the desk staff were and thought, I want to do that too. It had such a warm and friendly atmosphere; you just want to be part of it.
It’s great fun here and I have literally never met anybody here that I don’t like. The management are fantastic. It’s a very supportive environment. The other volunteers are wonderful. We are bonded now – we’re virtually related.
I would wholeheartedly suggest volunteering at the Holburne. It’s a worthwhile thing to do, and it’s a way of being part of the wider community and being more connected in Bath. It’s amazing.
Karen
My parents did not want me to go into factory work like all the other young people in my area, so I enrolled at night school. I became a secretary and secured a job with Revlon. They liked my face. I was still a secretary for them, but I was useless at it, so I kept being given other jobs such as modelling make up in Paris.
My face was being used a lot on different products and I eventually ended up moving with the company to New York. Initially I hated it! Back then, believe it or not, New York was very conservative. I was wearing miniskirts and I wanted to wear a bikini on the beach but was constantly being told to cover up! I came home after five months.
My father was furious and insisted I go back, so I did. However, I didn’t have a job, so I started selling cigarettes from a tray around my neck in restaurants. A customer suggested I modelled for their company, so I thought OK, why not. I stayed with that company for a while. I told my boss I wanted to become a buyer, and was taken under their wing. Then one season my boss became sick, and I had to step up quickly. The rest was a fabulous life of cocktail parties and mixing with movie stars, I even danced on stage with Liberace! I fell in love with New York, and I got to fly all over the world. I remember being in Hong Kong and thinking, well if I am here I may as well pop over to Bangkok. It was another world.
When I finished work, I came back to the UK and settled here in Bath. It was 2011. Everyone was talking about the Holburne and its new extension. Lots of people I met were all signing up to become volunteers, so I decided to give it a go as well.
I love being here. Everyone is so friendly: the volunteers, the staff. I have made so many good friends and I have learnt so much about art. You meet so many people from all over the globe. It’s so much fun and so interesting. I would recommend it to anyone who is a people person or just loves art.
Oh, and they throw two damn great parties for us every year!
Jessica
Art has always been in my blood. My mother is a professional painter and taught me (and my husband!) life drawing.
Following an art college training in Graphic Design, I worked for 21 years in design and marketing, largely within financial services institutions in the City of London. While this was high octane and rewarding, it took me down a very different track to the art-based career I had anticipated. So after moving to Bath, I began looking for an opportunity to combine my love of the art world with my years of design and marketing experience.
In 2012, I launched Modern ArtBuyer, an online art gallery and art sourcing consultancy, which I still run today. I represent around 50 contemporary painters and printmakers, hosting pop-ups to show their work, and working with private clients and interior designers to source the ideal artworks for their spaces.
Alongside this work, I have mentored fine art students at Bath Spa Uni, given talks on collecting art, and been on judging panels for various exhibitions and prizes. This also brought me to the Holburne, where I now volunteer as a gallery steward.
I have always held the Holburne in high regard. It’s a shining example of excellence amongst galleries, while maintaining a strong focus on accessibility. That ability to bring world-class art to a diverse audience is admirable. With that in mind, I was keen to volunteer. I could give my time to the museum while simultaneously expanding my art knowledge. A win-win – particularly since I work in that industry.
On top of that, at the museum I am surrounded by a glorious bunch of like-minded people who learn from each other, support each other and laugh together. I feel very fortunate to have found such a brilliant opportunity.
Lisa C
I spent 30 years of my career working between London and Switzerland as a Human Resources Director.
It was about 11 years ago that I stopped working and we decided to move back to the UK from Geneva. We were quite undecided on where to move to, and we spent a good 3-4 months touring around England to see where we liked. We looked at several different areas and eventually we settled on Bath.
I realised that although I had stopped working, I needed to keep my brain busy and occupied. It was a friend who suggested the Holburne to me as they were already volunteering. They were so positive about their own experience, I thought why not try it.
Since starting volunteering at the Holburne I have tried so many things, from gallery stewarding, collection cleaning and the shop. I also got to help on a research project with the curatorial team, and then tried the front desk, where I have been for the last three years.
I have also been involved with the Re-Framed Volunteer Team. We have produced three successful ‘Up Late’ events (when the Museum stays open late on the last Friday of each month) which has been enormous fun. I work with the marketing volunteers on this; it’s a very dynamic group and it’s so nice to see our work received so positively.
There are so many things I enjoy about volunteering. You are surrounded by like-minded people. You learn an awful lot. We get fantastic training. We’re constantly given training each time there’s a new exhibition, and we have opportunities to meet the artists if they’re still living.
There is also no pressure. You can do as little or as much as you wish to fit in with your own personal lifestyle.
The sense of fun is amazing here too. We have parties twice a year and different exhibitions and so many events. It’s always good fun.
If I were to offer any advice to someone thinking about volunteering, I would say just come along and try it out. You can come for an afternoon or meet with us, and we can talk through what we do. You are placed with a volunteer who’s been here a while, so you are not just thrown into it.
Lisa D
From childhood, I was fascinated by travel—drawing maps, studying atlases, and loving geography. At 18, I enrolled at Mendoza College in London, studying airlines, travel and hospitality, determined to build a career in the industry. After graduating in 1974, I entered the travel trade—a decision I never regretted.
My career spanned the golden age of travel, working with iconic brands like Pan Am, TWA, and Concorde. I trained many young professionals, often hiring graduates from Bath College’s travel programme to give them real-world experience.
In 2001, I took a risk by relaunching my business as a cruise-only agency—the first in Bath and the South West. With cruising growing in popularity and Bath’s affluent market, it succeeded. My team managed the office while I led cruise groups, earning industry recognition, including invites to prestigious ship launches like the ‘Queen Mary 2’.
Over 40 years, I thrived not just on travel but on customer service, community, and mentoring. I trained countless young staff, sharing in their highs and lows. Later, I consulted for a Bristol-based travel firm, specialising in cruise sales and remote staff training.
In 2011, I retired, closing a fulfilling chapter. My career was more than just seeing the world—it was about people, passion, and perseverance; this is when I began volunteering at the Holburne Museum.
Now 13 years later, it still feels as rewarding as the first. It reminds me of my career, engaging with visitors from around the world, collaborating with fellow volunteers, and working alongside the warm, appreciative staff. I cherish the chance to immerse myself in global art and culture while supporting my local community. Most of all, I love sharing my knowledge and experience to enhance visitors’ enjoyment, ensuring their time here is meaningful. Volunteering allows me to give back, stay connected, and continue doing what I love.
- The museum runs 2 shifts per day 7 days a week and is looking for a commitment of just 3.5 hours weekly, starting from September 2025.
- If you, a friend or family member is interested in joining the Holburne team, please get in touch with Head of Visitor Services: Spencer Hancock at s.hancock@holburne.org or find full details at: https://holburne.org/support-us/volunteer-at-the-museum/