Support the Arts in the Brandywine Valley

County Lines country has a rich tradition of arts and culture to be valued and supported. But we don’t need to be artists ourselves to help preserve that tradition.

One of the best ways to support local art and artists is by volunteering our time. Here are several local arts organizations looking for volunteers. Get involved and make a difference!

Arts Centers & Communities

Arts & Athletics Club: Promoting the arts and athletics in Chester County for people of all ages. Volunteer opportunities include event planning, scenery and seat setup, ticket sales and marketing distribution. Coatesville. 484-947-9586; ArtsAndAthelticsClub.com

Center for the Creative Arts: Providing high quality visual and performing arts opportunities, programs, events and exhibitions. Volunteer opportunities include administrative duties, facilities management, special events and a ten-week summer internship program for teens. 410 Upper Snuff Mill Row, Yorklyn, DE. 302-239-2434; CCArts.org

Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center: Contributing to the quality of life for people of the greater West Chester community by providing educational, recreational, cultural and civic services. Volunteer opportunities include mentoring, garden and building upkeep, fundraising and event planning. 501 E. Miner St., West Chester. 610-692-9290; MeltonCenter.org

Chester County Art Association: Educating, inspiring and connecting people through the arts. Volunteer opportunities include general administrative support, art library support, special event needs and summer camp assistance. 100 N. Bradford Ave., West Chester. 610-696-5600; ChesterCountyArts.org

Community Arts Center: Offering opportunities for all to create and enjoy the visual arts. Volunteer opportunities include assistance with exhibit openings, music and special events, outreach and the Beadazzle gift shop. 414 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford. 610-566-1713; CommunityArtsCenter.org

County Studio Tour: Providing artists an opportunity to showcase their studio with the public through professional events. Volunteer opportunities include assistance with artists’ studios and catalog delivery. 80 Highspire Rd., Downingtown. 610-942-9629; CountyStudioTour.com

Oxford Arts Alliance: Providing a collaborative platform to allow arts and culture to flourish in the community for all people. Volunteer opportunities include helping with special events and, for high schoolers, summer camp. 38 S. Third St., Oxford. 610-467-0301; OxfordArt.org

Wayne Art Center: Enriching the community through the arts with education, exhibitions and outreach. Volunteer opportunities include exhibition installation and removal, classroom and kitchen assistance, tour docents and day-to-day assistance. 413 Maplewood Ave., Wayne. 610-688-3553; WayneArt.org 

Museums & Historic Preservation

Brandywine River Museum of Art: Offering a unique way to appreciate art and the environment. Volunteer opportunities include guiding tours, clerical and data entry tasks, special events and ornament making during the holidays. 1 Hoffman’s Mill Rd., Chadds Ford. 610-388-2700; Brandywine.org

Delaware Art Museum: Connecting people to art through collections, exhibitions and programs. Volunteer opportunities include a 1–2 week program for teens to assist with summer art camps. 2301 Kentmere Pkwy., Wilmington. 302-571-9590; DelArt.org

Historic Sugartown: Offering a window into the American life in an early 19th-century rural crossroads village. Volunteer opportunities include guiding tours, caring for collections and buildings, and other volunteer projects. 273 Boot Rd., Malvern. 610-640-2667; HistoricSugartown.org

Historic Yellow Springs: Sharing, preserving and celebrating the unique living village of Yellow Springs. Volunteer opportunities include guiding tours, helping with art exhibits and events, and internships for high school and college students. 1685 Art School Rd., Chester Springs. 610-827-7414; YellowSprings.org

Wharton Esherick Museum: Celebrating and preserving the legacy of American artist Wharton Esherick. Volunteer opportunities include joining the museum docent team, assisting with museum collections, gardening and landscaping. 1520 Horseshoe Trail, Malvern. 610-644-5822; WhartonEsherickMuseum.org

Music & Dance

Kennett Symphony: Producing quality symphonic music and offering educational programs. 206 State St., Kennett Square. 610-444-6363; KennettSymphony.org

The Music School of Delaware: Offering standard-setting instructional programs for people of all ages and abilities. Contact to volunteer. 4101 Washington St., Wilmington. 302-762-1132; MusicSchoolOfDelaware.org

VoxAmaDeus: Bringing the music of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical Periods to life through performance and education. Volunteer opportunities include ushering and passing out programs at concerts. P.O. Box 203, Gladwyne. 610-688-2800; VoxAmaDeus.org

West Chester Dance Works: Training dancers and providing them and the community with access to the art of dance. Volunteer opportunities include special event staffing, marketing and public relations, office help and seasonal projects. 315-9 Westtown Rd., West Chester. 610-692-3398; WestChesterDanceWorks.org

Theater & Performing Arts

ACT Players: Creating quality educational and cultural experiences for anyone wishing to participate in any area of the theater and performing arts. Volunteer opportunities include front of house, backstage and behind-the-scenes assistance. P.O. Box 173, New London. 717-475-4600; ACTPlayers.org

Barley Sheaf Players: Promoting and encouraging the dramatic arts through year-round shows and activities. Volunteer opportunities include costuming, production and general housekeeping. 810 N. Whitford Rd., Lionville. 610-363-7075; BarleySheaf.org

The Brandywiners: Providing year-round entertainment throughout Delaware and the surrounding area with its chorale and annual theatrical performances. Volunteer opportunities include public relations and marketing, ticketing, setup and cleanup, and hospitality. P.O. Box 248, Montchanin, DE. 302-478-3355; Brandywiners.org 

Colonial Theatre: Nurturing community by celebrating the power of film and the performing arts. Volunteer opportunities included ushering, taking tickets, assisting special events and office support. 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. 610-917-1228; TheColonialTheatre.com

Delaware Theatre Company: Enriching the vitality of the area through artistic programming, education and community service. Volunteer opportunities include ushering, hospitality, marketing, scenery and props, and the costume committee. 200 Water St., Wilmington. 302-594-1104; DelawareTheatre.org 

Firebird Theatre: Helping today’s youth experience, enjoy and perform in the theater arts. Volunteer opportunities include production staff, set design and construction, costuming and front of house assistance. P.O. Box 7283, Audubon. FirebirdTheatre.net

Kennett Flash: Enhancing the quality of life for people of all ages through arts experiences for audiences, performing artists and students. 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square. 484-732-8295; KennettFlash.org

Media Theatre: Providing a venue to entertain theater lovers, educate young people, celebrate inclusion and enhance the arts in the community. Contact to volunteer. 104 E. State St., Media. MediaTheatre.org

People’s Light: Making and experiencing theater through plays and arts education programs. Volunteer opportunities include greeting, scanning tickets and ushering. 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern. 610-644-3500; PeoplesLight.org

Revival Productions: Providing exceptional and affordable live entertainment of all genres for all ages. Volunteer opportunities include stage crew, fundraising, event help, ushering and other front of house jobs. 17 N. Church St., Coatesville. 610-455-4300; Revival-Productions.com

SALT Performing Arts Center: Providing live community theater throughout the entire year, enriching workshops, summer camp programming and community outreach. Volunteer opportunities include stage crew, set construction, costuming, marketing, ushering and hospitality. 1646 Art School Rd., Chester Springs. 610-488-2585; SALTPA.com

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center: Providing a home for live performance, film and community. Volunteer opportunities include show setup, greeting, ushering and cleanup. 226 N. High St., West Chester. 610-356-2787; UptownWestChester.org 

West Chester Film Festival: Entertaining, enlightening and educating the public through the presentation of global independent and innovative short film and interactive workshops. P.O. Box 3542, West Chester. 484-639-9237; WestChesterFilmFestival.com

Photos: Community Art Center, Wayne Art Center, Barley Sheaf Players, Delaware Theatre Company