Join the Cultural Public Interest Movement in Tours

Why Volunteer with Association ELSE?

Volunteering with a multidisciplinary cultural association is a deeply rewarding experience that transcends conventional community service. At Association ELSE, our volunteers are not treated as secondary support staff; they are integral co-creators of our institutional life. When you participate in our operations at 13 Rue Galpin Thiou in Tours, you step into a dynamic environment where dancers, vocalists, acoustic composers, and neighborhood residents collaborate on equal footing.

Whether you have technical skills in sound engineering, a background in event hospitality, organizational talents in project logistics, or simply a generous enthusiasm for the performing arts, your contribution directly enables us to provide free masterclasses to underprivileged youth and open rehearsals to isolated senior citizens across Indre-et-Loire.

Four Core Volunteer Pathways

To help you identify how your individual interests and schedule align best with our seasonal activities, we have organized our volunteer opportunities into four distinct action tracks:

Track A: Community Hospitality & Public Welcoming

The public welcoming team represents the warm, human face of Association ELSE. Members of this team welcome attendees at our open rehearsals, manage attendee registration tables, distribute informative pedagogical guides, and ensure that individuals with mobility or accessibility needs receive attentive, dignified assistance. This pathway is ideal for gregarious individuals who enjoy meeting people from all walks of life.

Track B: Technical Production & Stagecraft Support

Behind every memorable choreographic and musical performance is a dedicated technical crew. Working alongside our professional stage manager and resident sound artists, technical volunteers assist with the setup and teardown of portable dance linoleum flooring, acoustic microphone stands, audio cabling, and energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures in community centers and outdoor festival courtyards across Tours.

Track C: Educational Masterclass Mentorship

If you have experience in education, youth recreation, or movement coaching, this track allows you to assist our principal choreographers and vocal coaches during secondary school workshops and weekend family ateliers. You will support student warm-up exercises, help coordinate group improvisation games, and provide encouraging feedback to young participants exploring performance arts for the very first time.

Track D: Documentation, Photography & Archival Research

Our cultural archive preserves the artistic memory of all residency projects. Volunteers with skills in non-intrusive rehearsal photography, audio recording, graphic layout, or document archiving help capture the subtle evolution of each multidisciplinary creation, creating open-access educational assets that benefit regional researchers and schools.

Our 4-Step Volunteer Onboarding Process

We respect your time and are committed to ensuring a structured, supportive volunteer experience. Our onboarding process follows four straightforward steps:

1. Submit Online Application: Complete the registration form below, indicating your areas of interest, skills, and weekly or monthly availability.
2. Informal Orientation Dialogue: Attend a friendly 30-minute introductory meeting (in person at our Tours seat or via video call) with our Volunteer Coordinator to discuss mutual expectations.
3. Commitment Charter & Insurance Registration: Review and sign the Association ELSE Volunteer Charter (Charte du Bénévolat), which guarantees clear task descriptions, mutual respect, and comprehensive civil liability insurance coverage paid entirely by the association.
4. Field Immersion & Mentorship: Pair with an experienced volunteer mentor during your first two cultural events, ensuring you feel confident, supported, and connected.

Volunteer Application & Registration Form

Please fill out the application below to register your interest in joining our volunteer corps. Submissions are processed securely and reviewed weekly by our Tours coordination committee.