"My mother has instilled the value of community service from an early age, yet Arabesque was my first volunteer experience in the arts. This remarkable festival has been a great experience not only aesthetically, but culturally as well. My mother and I just joined the Friends because we had such a wonderful experience. Shukran, Arabesque!"
- Nawal Ziyadeh, first generation Jordanian-American [daughter of Kwala Nimri, Jordan]
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Festival and Event Volunteering
The Festival/Event volunteers assist the Friends volunteers with staffing the international festival as well as other events at the Kennedy Center.
If you are interested in joining the Festival/Event volunteer team please email vols@kennedy-center.org with your name, address, phone number, and email address. We will then add your name to our Festival/Event database!
Past international festivals that utilized volunteers include Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World in 2009 and maximum INDIA in 2011 and Nordic Cool 2013. These festivals reflect the unique perspective of the international flavor of the Kennedy Center's programming.
Other volunteer positions for Festival/Event opportunities can be as diverse as assisting with check-in for one-day workshops, to working side-by-side with an artist visiting the Kennedy Center, to assisting with the NSO Women's Committee Instrument Petting Zoo to Opera in the Outfield at Nationals Park. Festival/Event Volunteers receive benefits during their time of service, including discounted parking in the Kennedy Center garage.
Here are a few testimonials from Festival/Event volunteers who worked the Nordic Cool 2013 festival, held at the Kennedy Center in February and March of 2013:
"I believe that the international festivals are an important part of the Kennedy Center's programming because they showcase specific cultures. These festivals bring together those of us who may not be familiar with the cultures represented and are curious to learn about them alongside members of DC's international community who are either from these countries or more aware of the cultures."
– Andrew Addison, of Norwegian descent
"Volunteering for Nordic Cool 2013 was a great way for me to learn about the other Nordic countries besides my own Swedish heritage. This was especially true because of the exhibits and performances I was able to attend, as they represented their culture in ways that were different, yet the same as mine. Â I really enjoyed the Royal Swedish Orchestra concert that kicked off the festival. It was absolutely eye-opening."
–Juergen Zilling, Sweden
"It was wonderful to volunteer for Nordic Cool 2013. I loved being able to represent my country to so many interested visitors and to share a little of the Nordic culture. To see my culture through the eyes of these visitors gave me a new perspective of, and appreciation for, my area of the world. Thank you for the opportunity - and I am also grateful that I was able to meet other volunteers who are part of the Friends program."
–Iben Munck, Denmark
"I loved seeing all forms of art representing each country so you could get a sense of their different cultures at the festival. Â I absolutely loved volunteering for the LEGO and IPAD sections, and sharing the background of LEGO with all the patrons. It was amazing seeing what kinds of things kids were building with the Legos. The Kennedy Center is absolutely great in allowing other countries showcase their cultures."
–David van Ongevalle, married to a Finn
