EVS in Muddum!
Be A (Paid) EVS Volunteer in our Arts/Ceramics/Cultural Centre in Prague!
We now have two new volunteers so we won't be looking for a few months
for EVS volunteers to start in September 2010, but please still send
your applications for future deadlines.
We are looking for two new volunteers to start in September 2010 and work for one year.
Applicants must be a citizen of the EU or selected other countries (see EVS website),
not a Czech citizen unfortunately (you can volunteer in other EU countries).
Muddum is an arts centre in Prague. We run workshops (mainly ceramics), have a gallery/exhibition space,
and an info-café. The project is an integrated space where young people and others can improve their artistic abilities,
exhibit their work, purchase unique creative products and relax, be inspired, or read from our small library and take part in
cultural activities in our info-café. It is also a place where all those from the local community, whether long-term residents or
newly arrived foreigners can connect with each other and form a sense of community in a creative and relaxing environment.
The three aspects of our centre include the workshop (the heart of Muddum) where we run courses and produce our own work.
We offer space in our gallery to other artists through our artist of the month exhibition scheme, with the aim to promote new artists
and help them get started by giving them a chance to show their art in public. We also exhibit work of our students at the end of
each course. In the info-café, people can read our mainly English language material on art, ceramics, philosophy, mythology,
psychology, politics, psychoanalysis, ecology, poetry and more. We also organise regular events, film screenings etc, and
offer the space to other organisations (usually environmental or social, eg: Friends of the Earth Czech, International
Peace Movement of the Czech Republic, World Carfree Network) so they can give information on issues they are
involved in to young people and others from the local community. Muddum is based in Letna in Prague, a nice
cultural area with a good sense of community very close to the city centre with excellent transport links.
We are opposite one of the nicest parks in Prague (Letna) with a great view where we take
kids from our classes for activities (such as juggling workshops.) The centre is
around 100m2, with good windows, heating, and light.
How We Started (EVS Graduate!)
Muddum was started in May 2004 as a future capital funded project (after completing an EVS) by Joe and Klara Dodds,
an English/Czech couple who are the main staff of the centre, also helped by others who use the space for their own work in return.
We set up and ran the project from the start by ourselves and so can give volunteers an opportunity to learn all aspects involved in
running such a space. So for people wanting to start their own small arts project, this is a perfect opportunity! As we are still young
and expanding there is plenty of opportunity for the volunteer to stamp their individuality on the project. I did my EVS service in Prague
with the World Carfree Network (then called Car Busters), an environmental magazine, website and a coordinating hub of a global
network focused on transport issues. I then used the future capital grant following this to set up Muddum. I found my EVS experience
very beneficial and learned a lot, and would like to offer others a similar experience. We are looking forward to the input that young
people from different countries could bring to our centre and hope they will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to various aspects of
our space. We will give them opportunities to make a real contribution to Muddum and help us with expanding our programme.
Volunteers: What We Offer
We can offer a lot to prospective volunteers. As we set ourselves up with a Youth Programme Future Capital grant, we can give the
volunteer all the skills and experience needed to try something similar themselves on completing their EVS. The volunteer would work
with us on all aspects of the project. The most important would be to work with us teaching the workshops (especially ceramics but
we would be more than happy to support them to develop their own programme and workshops in a variety of possible media).
Volunteers would also be involved in all other aspects of the project such as managing the centre; organising events (such as film
nights, discussion groups, poetry readings, including organising their own events in our space on topics or themes that interest them;
gallery coordination (planning future exhibitions and exhibiting their own work); producing and distributing outreach materials; website
work; office management and creating their own art in our wokshops. So overall they would gain knowledge, skills, and experience
on all aspects of our centre, all they would need to know to start up something similar themselves in your own country (or Prague
if they decide to stay like I did!) We will offer a balance between giving the volunteer the skills to support us in our projects and
giving them the freedom and space to develop and experiment with thier own ideas and interests.
Volunteers: Our Criteria
We would be able to offer a position for two people. As the person would preferably be involved in all aspects of the centre,
it would be best if they can bring something to each side of our work. The most essential though is to have some artistic ability
to work in the workshop. Previous experience with ceramics is the most important criteria as you would be expected to be able
to teach it to adults and children. It would be best to have experience in other art media too, and want to improve these and
gain confidence and experience. Experience of working with children and teaching in general is also desirable. Those with
particular artistic skill would also be encouraged to exhibit their work in our space, work on our gallery and offer classes
to teach their speciality. The most ideal candidate would also speak some Czech (we know this is unlikely!) The volunteer
would preferably also have some skills related to the ‘office’ side of our organisation. This would involve web-work
(so some experience of creating or managing a website would be ideal, we use Dreamweaver), creating and distributing
outreach materials, grant applications, and other similar activities. Having their own laptop for this would be a real bonus!
Finally, some experience with oganising events such as film nights, outreach events etc. would also be good (but not essential)
for our work with the cultural side of our organisation. In particular, someone with particular passions that they want to tell
people about and perhaps some activist experience in social or environmental movements would be beneficial (but again
not essential). Interested volunteers should reply with a CV and letter of motivation to the e-mail address below.
We look forward to your applications!