This month we have asked Volunteer Photographer Kate Hardy to contribute to our Volunteer Spotlight series where we are asking volunteers to share their experience with us.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers for contributing to the continued success of Castlefield Gallery.

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I’ve been volunteering at the art gallery for about 8 months, I was looking for an opportunity to improve my photography and push myself out of my comfort zone a little!

What made you want to volunteer here?

I googled volunteer photography opportunities and this role came up! I’ve lived in Manchester for many years and never actually been to the art gallery. The role seemed interesting, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to develop my photography skills and my confidence as well as helping a small gallery in some way. I met Leslie, the Communications Coordinator, and she was lovely and it was interesting to hear about the work of the gallery, so I went for it!

The flexibility of it fits perfectly into my full time job, and from the outset everyone has been really lovely and welcoming. I also get a chance to go to previews and events that I would never have gone to, so that’s really interesting to me, as it’s not usually a world I move in.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of volunteering with Castlefield Gallery?

I think like any volunteer position, just go for it! It can benefit you in so many ways; social, confidence, improve your CV, it can be inspiring too and it feels good to be part of something.

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Learn more about our volunteering programme here