Exhibition Volunteers

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Embracing Our Differences 2026 Exhibition at Sarasota's Bayfront Park.

Volunteer slots are available daily throughout the exhibition, January 17 through April 19, 2026.

Volunteer Duties & Info

Available shifts are 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
You only need to collect responses for a period of 60 minutes within your selected time slot (for example, you could choose to collect responses from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM if you sign up for the 11:00AM - 1:00 PM shift).
We cannot predict when the most visitors will be in the park, so we ask you to use your best judgment and try to capture as many surveys as possible. Lunchtime and afternoons tend to see more foot traffic and there is typically consistent movement in the park on the weekends.
Volunteers will receive a stack of surveys as well as a clipboard. There is a FRONT & BACK to the survey. The back side allows people to vote for their favorite artwork & quotation, helping us decide who will receive the $2,000 People's Choice Award artist and writer prizes.
Please survey individuals while they are at the exhibition and make sure they hand the survey back to you before leaving the park.
If at any time you need more surveys, please email [email protected].

Available shifts are 9:00-11:00 AM, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, or 1:00-3:00 PM
You only count for a period of 60 minutes within your two-hour slot (for example, you could choose to count from 9:45-10:45 AM if you sign up for a 9:00 AM-11:00 AM shift).
During your shift, please encourage visitors to fill out the online survey, which includes best-in-show voting (accessible via the QR code on the welcome banner).
Timeslots are different every day for data collecting best practices purposes.
You will receive a handy hand-held tally counter to track your daily counts. Please email Michaela following your shift with your total number of visitors.
If you prefer to use a digital counter please visit simplecounter.app on your cell phone or mobile device.
Please count near the front of the exhibition close to the park entrance so you count everyone walking in.
You are welcome to bring a beach chair to sit in while you are counting.
You do not have to count students visiting via field trips; they are already accounted for when the teacher signs up for a field trip.

If for some reason you cannot make your shift, please let us know as soon as possible.
With Florida weather being unpredictable, we will cancel any volunteers shifts scheduled if there is inclement weather. We will send an email to the scheduled volunteers letting them know that their shift has been canceled.
These shifts must be completed separately - you cannot be counting and collecting surveys at the same time.

Please contact Michaela Stockhill at [email protected] or 941-404-5710.