We have over 60 teams of volunteers that contribute to the success of the International Folk Art Market | Santa Fe during the second full weekend of July each year, so there are many opportunities to find your best volunteer fit. By far, the largest number of opportunities (approximately 1400 shifts) are for Artist Assistants who work in the booths with the artists to assist with the sales process. Volunteer job descriptions are available here: 2019 Volunteer Position Descriptions.

Volunteer registration for the 2019 International Folk Art Market will open in April 2019. Please check back here, or sign up for the IFAM newsletter for updates and reminders.

IFAM | Santa Fe needs up to 130 interpreters speaking almost 50 languages. For more details about how to be a volunteer translator or interpreter, click here: Volunteer Interpreters

You can volunteer for multiple team as long as your shift times do not conflict. For the most part, our volunteer management system will not allow you to volunteer for conflicting shifts. However, if you want to work all-day as an artist assistant, interpreter or cashier, Shiftboard will allow a 30 minute overlap so you can register for a morning shift and afternoon shift on the same day. In order to see the schedule for a volunteer team, you must first be a member of that team. After you have joined a team within the volunteer management system, you will be able to see available shifts for that team once you return to the calendar. Be sure to scroll the calendar to the correct date using the arrows. Most shifts are July 12-14, 2019.

Yes. You can sign up with a friend or partner by finding a shift with two available slots. You and your partner must each register for one of the available shifts using your own  accounts.

All artist names are in the Artist Assistant schedule. Starting in late-June, you may no longer be able to select a specific artist. At that time, we will make assignments internally to to ensure that all artists have support.

Average temperatures in Santa Fe in July range in the mid-80s. July is also the “monsoon” season for northern New Mexico, during which afternoon rains are common. We recommend bringing a backpack with a reusable water bottle, adequate food for the amount of time you’ll be away from home, chapstick, sun protection such as a hat and sunblock, and a poncho or umbrella.

If you are volunteering on Friday night, you should also bring a flashlight. Your shift will end after dark outside, and parking lots may have inadequate lighting.

If you want to shop at the market, bring cash, checks or credit card. There is an ATM on site. Wear comfortable shoes.

And come prepared to have fun and make new friends!

The Market provides snacks for the volunteers.

The volunteer hospitality tent (in the lower lot where the shuttle drops off volunteers) offers snacks (healthy and sweet) and coffee. The Volunteer Hospitality Team will also deliver snacks to volunteers in public Market areas twice each day in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Food will be provided for volunteers in the volunteer hospitality tent prior to the Friday night shift between 4-5 p.m.

Meals can be purchased at the International Food Bazaar or Museum Café before or after your shift. We recommend that volunteers with special dietary needs or food sensitivities bring their own food.

There is no secure storage for personal items such as handbags, so please keep this in mind as you decide what to bring with you. The best solution for storing your water bottle, sunblock, and other personal items is a fanny pack or a backpack.

We are extremely grateful for your help producing the largest folk art market of its kind!

Volunteers receive:

• A commemorative Market t-shirt and folk art thank-you gift
• Free admission to the Market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• A dedicated volunteer shuttle to bring you to and from Museum Hill
• A volunteer hospitality tent with snacks, refreshment & relaxation

On top of all that, it’s an unparalleled and unique volunteer experience where the world comes to Santa Fe! Hear some of our past volunteers describe their experience – Volunteering at the International Folk Art Market

We provide free entrance to all of our volunteers during Market general admission hours on Saturday and Sunday. We hope you will shop, but expect that you will respect the artists by following a few simple rules:

• If you are scheduled to work the Friday Market Opening Party or the Saturday Early Bird Market, please understand that these are paid shopping experiences, and you may not purchase items before or during your shift.
• You may not shop during your shift. Please allow yourself time before or after your shift for shopping.
• Do not ask an artist to sell items directly to you with cash, to sell you items before the Market begins on Friday evening, or to “hold” any items for you.

You can click here for Volunteer-Position-Summaries. Additionally, the team leader/volunteer chair for your area can provide you with more information about your duties, required skills, training, and shift schedule. If you don’t know who your volunteer chair is email volunteer@folkartmarket.org

After you sign up for a shift or are assigned by your team’s Volunteer Chair you will receive a confirmation email for each shift to which you’re assigned. You can also log back into your account anytime to see your shifts.  You will receive email reminders 48 hours prior to each scheduled shift. If you are an Artist Assistant those reminder emails will contain your booth number and artist name.

Information about volunteer shirt and badge pick-up will be posted here in mid-April. This information can also be found in the Volunteer News area.

You can also get your t-shirt and badge when you arrive on Museum Hill at the volunteer tent beginning Friday morning, July 13. In order to pick up your badge on Museum Hill, you must arrive via the volunteer Shuttle, as you will not be able to get in through the main market entrance without your badge. You DO NOT need your badge or t-shirt to ride the volunteer shuttle. Please plan to ARRIVE on the Hill 30 minutes prior to the start of your shift to pick up your badge at the volunteer tent, allow time for a bag check by security and to get to your volunteer location on time. This means being in the volunteer shuttle lot at the Montoya Building (in front of the clinic) at the intersection of St. Francis & Cordova 60 mins prior to your shift.

We cannot pay for or reimburse volunteer travel expenses.

Some volunteer expenses can be itemized as tax deductions. (Consult your tax professional for details.) If you require a letter of service as proof of performance, email us at volunteer@folkartmarket.org

There are free parking lots for volunteer parking Thursday – Sunday during the event. Click here for maps and directions.

A dedicated volunteer shuttle brings you to and from volunteer check-in area on Museum Hill. We aspire for a 20 minute turnaround from parking lots to Market it doesn’t always happen during shift transition times. Please allow at least 60 minutes prior to the start of your volunteer shift for parking, taking the shuttle, security check, and badge pick-up.  For Parking questions, particularly those related to ADA access to the Market email parking@folkartmarket.org.