Get Involved: Wednesday Concert Series

Meet people and make a valuable contribution to a Fernie summer-staple: the Arts Station is gathering this year’s Wednesday Volunteers Team.

The Wednesday Concert Series, or Wednesday Socials as they are known locally, happen every Wednesday throughout July and August, popping up in Station Square as a free, community concert. They have been happening for nearly 7 years, originally started by Krista Turcasso and Vanessa Croome of the Fernie Fix, alongside Courtney Baker, with funding and support from the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. After five years, the trio passed the event on to the Arts Station, which offers nine weeks of free live music in the early evening, from indie and folk to funk and reggae.

The event series has always been an almost entirely volunteer led and run event and would not have come together without the hard work of our most music-minded and community-inspired Fernie-ites. In 2017, the event series became part of the Fernie and District Art Council’s annual programming, due to its location on the Arts Station deck and fast growing popularity – with audiences reaching nearly 500 every week in 2017.

With the bands booked and the liquor ordered, the time has come to gather the gang of volunteers for this summer’s series. Volunteering at the Socials is first and foremost about customer service, talking to patrons, helping people enjoy the event and enjoying the event yourself! Over the nine weeks, it’s a real team-effort: an awesome opportunity to meet new people in the community and give something back in a low commitment, social, easy way.

There are three main roles that volunteers fulfil:

• Set-up and breakdown, 4-5pm and/or 9-10pm: Due to the size and popularity of the event, the Arts Staion now needs a full fence around the event space to designate where liquor can be consumed. They also provide tables and chairs, refuse and recycle points, a kids tent and welcome food trucks. They need people who are able to turn up at 4pm on Wednesday the most – if you think that’s you, even if you can only sign up for one or two weeks, PLEASE get in touch!
• Drinks tent and drink ticket tables, 4.30-9pm: Selling drinks tickets and dispensing beer, wine and cider – keeping thirsty patrons satisfied! You need a Serving It Right certificate or be willing on complete the Special Events Server certification (paid for by the Arts Station). Roles are divided into cash handling or drinks dispensing.
• Gate steward: A group of people is needed to steward the event boundaries, keeping liquor within the event space and answering queries. This position does not require having to stand for extended periods of time and is accessible to many different people.

How to get involved:

They are holding a Volunteer Launch event this Wednesday 13 of June, 6:30 @ the Arts Station. Drop in and hear more about the volunteering opportunities, receive some brief training and ask any questions. You can sign up to the Facebook event or email Hannah at assistant@theartsstation.com to let them know you’re coming.

If you can’t make it, drop into the Arts Station any time Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm, or email Hannah at assistant@theartsstation.com. They don’t need you to sign up for the whole nine weeks, but love if you can commit to at least three or four weeks. If you have any doubts or worries, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

P.s. the line-up for series is announced Friday June 8!  Follow the Arts Station’s social media channels to check out the bands!