Volunteer Opportunities at Hill-Stead Museum

Volunteer with Hill-Stead Museum

Hill-Stead Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Farmington, is actively seeking volunteers to support the mission and vision of the organization. The museum serves diverse audiences in Connecticut and beyond as a welcoming place for learning, reflection and enjoyment. Hill-Stead develops, preserves, documents, displays and interprets its exceptional Impressionist paintings, 1901 historic house and 152-acre landscape for the benefit of present and future generations.

Volunteers work with the public and behind-the-scenes to care for and preserve the legacy of the founder Theodate Pope Riddle (1867-1946). From working in the historic Sunken Garden to cleaning the historic house and leading tours for visitors from all over the world, volunteers make a difference every day at Hill-Stead. Visit www.hillstead.org to learn more.

Below are the many opportunities to get involved.

Museum Guide

Guides at Hill-Stead are among the museum’s frontline ambassadors. The Museum Guide meets and greets visitors, offers an immersive and engaging tour experience of the historic house and art collections, and, together with the security staff, ensures the safety of visitors and of the museum. Visitors are either walk-in individuals or members of a scheduled group, and of all ages. Guides share historically accurate information in an inclusive, engaging, and enthusiastic manner. They also serve as room monitors during self-paced tours (also known as “open houses”).

Museum Guides must be able to sign up for a minimum of two shifts per month. Each shift is three hours long and includes giving two tours. This totals approximately 50 hours of volunteer work per year. To prepare for this role, they must attend the weekly training that begins on Wednesday, September 3 and runs until November 19th. This training is conducted by the Resident Art Historian, Oliver O’Donnell, PhD. No prior museum experience required.

Team Clean

Team Clean helps refresh and restore the Historic House interiors. The Team meets every Tuesday, beginning at 10am and working until finished (usually 2-4 hours later). Members are trained in decorative arts collection care and handling by Hill-Stead's Senior Curator, Melanie Bourbeau. This is a great opportunity to get up close with collection objects and maintain the interiors for visitors to enjoy. No prior museum experience necessary.

Garden Gang

Hill-Stead’s one-acre Sunken Garden features a thirty-six bed garden designed circa 1920 by American landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand (1872–1959). Farrand was the only female founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a great admirer of English landscape gardener Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932). It is thought that Farrand chose Hill-Stead’s plant colors to complement the palette of French Impressionist art in the historic house. Garden Gang volunteers corral and contain plants to maintain the historic planting plan as much as possible. Most gardeners bring their own preferred hand tools, gloves, and water bottle, but we have tools you can borrow. Training is provided by the Director of Buildings and Grounds Dave Perbeck. No prior gardening experience necessary.

To sign up, learn more or ask questions, please reach out to Hill-Stead Museum at info@hillstead.org or 860.677.4787x181. We are happy to help you get involved!