There’s an age-old saying in theater: “the show must go on.” At Walton Arts Center, we say something similar about our volunteer team: the show can’t go on without them! Our dedicated corps of volunteers are involved in every aspect of what we do—helping in the administrative office, box office, the Friends lounge, ushering in the hall and more.
Our volunteers make a difference not only to the success of our organization and visiting artists, but to our community. Volunteers help create unique experiences for the first-time visitor or the patron that has been with us for our 30-year history (some of our volunteers have been here that long too).
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month here at Walton Arts Center and over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of the amazing people who help make up our outstanding team of volunteers.
Annee Littell has been volunteering at Walton Arts Center for 27 years. “I was here in Fayetteville before Walton Arts Center was ever built. I was thrilled when it came into being and thought, ‘Volunteering will give me a chance to see more art.”
“When I moved here decades ago, it was just a little college town,” Littell continued, “But it is still that funky place I knew back then. Walton Arts Center has spiffed it up and now people come here to share their art. It is an arts destination! Now, the arts are much more accessible – especially as a volunteer. I get to learn so much about arts and entertainment and I get to see things that I wouldn’t have before.”
Littell’s favorite memory is using her volunteer complimentary tickets to take her daughter to see Kinky Boots. The complimentary ticket program allows volunteers to work up to receiving tickets to shows that are presented at the venue, and Littell turned their day at the theater into a party, with access to the lounge and a great show to top it off.
Littell is a lifelong learner, springing from her experience living in Istanbul, Turkey at just 17 years old. Littell was an educator and particularly loves working education shows, where students from schools all across the area come to Walton Arts Center for a field trip, to see a show made just for them. “I love all of the things Walton Arts Center for kids through the educational programs. I was a teacher for years and I know how much those arts experiences change their lives.”
She volunteers at multiple places across the community, helping at the library, donating her time removing invasive plant species and visiting people in hospice. She also enjoys gardening, knitting and she fosters dogs.
If you are looking for a way to experience more performing arts or to support the arts in your community, volunteering at Walton Arts Center is a great way to get involved. For more information about volunteering, please visit waltonartscenter.org/volunteer.
