Volunteer Spotlight
There's no better time to shine a light on just a few of the wonderful people that help us keep the Festival running.
National Volunteer Week is here so keep reading to meet a few of the friendly faces who greet you at our events and are always there to lend a hand.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us keep an eye out later this year or get in touch via email.
Meet Wendy, volunteer since 2015
My name's Wendy and I'm a lawyer by day and in my spare time I like hiking/walking; eating/drinking/cooking/hosting; theatre/music/books. I suspect I'm like the vast majority of volunteers who just want to get involved in things that interest them.
How did you end up volunteering at Perth Festival?
My first time volunteering for Perth Festival was the year of The Giants in 2015. I was working with UWA and a call went out internally for volunteers. There must have been at least 400 people who put their hand up. It was such a fantastic event. I can't remember if I was involved in any other events that year, but those three days with The Giants in February were amazing.
What’s been your favourite Perth Festival moment?
The opportunities for volunteers change every year which makes it exciting. I've escorted writers and characters in costume around UWA or Fremantle Arts Centre between appearances, helped make lanterns or tinsel decorations or installations, been a guide in the dark for evening events like Boorna Waanginy in Kings Park and STRUT Dance at the old Sunset Men's Hospital), picked up rubbish, wiped tables and smiled a lot!
I now get to see and hear amazing musicians at the repurposed East Perth Power Station and talk to all sorts of people about all sorts of stuff. I have zero decisions to make, and my only role is to be helpful and friendly. Along the way, people share all sorts of information and feedback. I've learned useful information about artists and performances that I can pass on. It's great working again with 'old hand' volunteers each new Festival – plus running into old friends.
It's impossible to pick a favourite event – I think I'm lucky to get to do any of it. To get a glimpse behind the scenes, that’s probably my favourite part of volunteering at Perth Festival.
Meet Ava, volunteered for the first time in in 2026
Hi, my name is Ava, and I was a volunteer at Perth Festival during my year of travelling and living in Australia. In my free time, I love to sing, having experience performing and leading a band, as well as constantly making time to read, I've always got my nose in a good book!
How did you end up volunteering at Perth Festival?
During my time living in Australia, I made it a mission of mine, where possible, to get involved with the events and festivals scene across the country. What specifically drew me to the Perth Festival was how diverse its line up and events were, enabling me to get a glimpse at the art and culture scene here in Perth. Such interesting and thought provoking work, alongside excellent performances from a variety of musicians and artists really caught my attention and made me want to get involved! As I’m not from Australia, I was always keen to see what the local scenes across the country were like and feel inspired by what I witnessed.
What’s been your favourite Perth Festival event/moment?
It would have to be a tie between being able to catch the David Bowie orchestra tribute following on from one of my shifts at the Casa Musica venue. Such a phenomenal tribute performance, bringing David Bowie to life in a way I had not seen before! This ties with POV – a show I managed to see at Subiaco Arts Centre, which was such a fascinating performance about mental health, using two fresh actors every night to keep the material constantly changing depending on how they interpreted the material, or how their own life experiences may have informed their performance. Such a unique performance piece, it’s really stuck with me since I saw it.
Why has this become a special memory?
This is a special memory to me as it’s the last place I was staying during my year in Australia, so it really closes out a very important chapter in my life. In addition, the Festival was such an excellent event to get to see close up, and to help in even the smallest of ways was such a privilege.
Meet Anita, volunteer since 2012
I’m Anita Clayton, a retired nurse and I enjoy volunteering across a range of areas as well as going to concerts, plays and films.
How did you end up volunteering at Perth Festival?
I’ve been volunteering in some form since I was a 15 year old Red Cross cadet in England, shaking a collection tin for donations, but I’ve been with Perth Festival since 2012. I was a Festival member before I retired, so once I had more time I was keen to become a volunteer and be more involved with Festival events.
What’s been your favourite Perth Festival event/moment?
Place des Anges is probably my favourite memory as I was in front of St Georges’ Cathedral and loved the way people stayed on afterwards with children rolling in the feathers and adults talking to those around them. It was a lovely atmosphere but difficult to take photos with so much movement and little light.