Volunteer

We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to join our current team assisting with the daily running of Inverleith House – RBGE’s primary exhibition venue – and welcome visitors to our upcoming exhibition Earth Matters.  

Curated in collaboration with Design Exhibition Scotland, Earth Matters is grounded in the work of James Hutton, the Edinburgh-born geologist whose tercentenary will be celebrated in 2026. Earth Matters charts how our understanding of soil has unfolded, through contributions from over 20 artists.

What does this role entail?  

We offer training for this role, and activities include the following: 

• Welcoming and orientating visitors in the gallery
• Invigilating and ensuring the safety of the artwork on display 
• Answering questions about the exhibition, artists, and other RBGE Creative Programmes projects 
• Encouraging visitors to engage with the exhibition and works on display 
• Maintaining the cleanliness of the exhibition spaces 
• Assisting in opening and closing the gallery spaces.
• There might be additional opportunities to deliver a Spotlight Talk (brief introduction to Earth Matters, through which volunteers shine a light on their favourite aspect of the exhibition) or support other exhibitions and events organised by the Creative Programmes team.  

Ideally volunteers will be able to commit to at least 3 hours per week from 20 March to 1 November, between the hours of 10.15am and 4.45pm. We also welcome applications from people who are only available for part of the exhibition run.  

How do I apply?  

If this sounds of interest, we would love to hear from you.  Please complete an application form and return to volunteering@rbge.org.uk by 9am on Friday 6 February 2026, along with brief answers to the following questions:  

• What do you like most about galleries?  
• What is your favourite exhibition you have ever visited, and why do you think you enjoyed it so much?  
• What are you looking to gain from joining the volunteer gallery assistant team?  

We encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds, and value the positive impact that this has on our team.  RBGE is committed to ensuring that all volunteers are treated equally irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, and pregnancy or maternity.