Volunteer & WEX CREW
Your gift of service to LEAF Global Arts furthers LEAF’s mission of cultural connection!
Festival Work Exchange (WeX)
LEAF Global Arts retreat, may 8-11, 2025
WeX (Work eXchanges) help create LEAF Retreat & LEAF Festival each May and October! We count on the service of 300+ WeXs to help make the events come to life! Opportunities include serving up local brews & beverages at Concessions, helping people at First Aid, assisting the Welcome crew to get people in, prepare yummy meals in Eden Hall, building and breaking down, and much more that helps make LEAF happen!
Learn more...
- CLICK HERE to purchase your WeX, WeX PLUS, or WeX Star Application ($15 non-refundable fee).
- Your application link is emailed to you within 24 hours. (Double-check spam & junk folders)
- Application is complete when one of the following apply:
- You are 21 yrs or over – have completed all fields and submitted no show fee via check or credit card (online).
- You are under 21 yrs – have completed all fields; submitted no show fee via check or credit card (online); and submitted two references and a letter of recommendation from an employer or administrator.
- ***BIG IMPORTANT NOTE!!!*** No Show fees are NOT charged in advance.
WeXs are accepted on a rolling basis, in other words until all roles are filled! Apply early to secure favorite roles.
WEx: Work 10 hours in exchange for a Weekend Ticket (Fri 9 am – Sun 7 pm) that includes overnight tent camping. Thursday access not included.
WEx Plus: Work 15 hours in exchange for a Weekend Plus Ticket (Thursday 6 pm – Sun 7 pm). Those that are completing WeX Plus hours must be available for a Thursday shift.
WEx Star: Work 20 hours in exchange for a Weekend Plus Ticket (Thursday 6 pm – Sun 7 pm) AND Culinary Passport or Guest Pass*. Star WeXs must have previously worked for LEAF and of course, be awesome. *Guest Passes are limited and first come first serve. We’ll cross it out when it’s no longer an option.
CHILD CARE
Available: Festival
Location: Elfhaven in the Family Lodge
Job Duties: Work with the childcare staff to provide a safe and friendly environment for the kids. Playing games, coloring and reading stories to the youth are just a few activities you will be required to do.
Special Requirements: Friendly, patient, and good with children of ALL ages.
CONCESSIONS
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: Ship, Meadows (Main Stage), Barn, or Eden Hall
Job Duties: You will be selling a variety of drinks to the festival goers including sodas, beer and wine.
Special Requirements: Must be detail oriented and good with numbers, handling money and dealing with crowds of people in a pressure situation. Must be 21 or over.
MEMBERSHIP
Available: Festival
Location: Upper Barn
Job Description: Work with our Development Team to assist our LEAF Members with purchasing/renewing their membership, answering questions, and letting them know what benefits their membership level entails.
Special Requirements: Must be friendly!
Hospitality
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: Lower Barn
Job Description: Host our LEAF VIPs & Artists at the Lower Barn! You will be responsible for checking credentials (proper wristbands & IDs), pouring beer, keeping the space tidy, and answering questions.
Special Requirements: Must be 21+ and friendly!
FLOATER
Available: Festival
Location: WeX Headquarters
Job Duties: This is the open slot where you could end up doing just about anything. We have floaters to help in case someone does not show up for a shift or if we need extra help in an area.
Special Requirements: Flexible and willing to help LEAF with whatever necessary.
KITCHEN
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: Eden Hall
Job Duties: Food preparation and serving food.
Special Requirements: Must wear closed-toe shoes & a hat. Food service experience helpful. Food safety certification helpful, but not required.
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: Varies
Job Descriptions: LEAF Schools & Streets off site Check-in, assist in the Global Outpost, assist around the festival with LEAF Schools & Streets performances and performers, and raffle assistance. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to selling raffle tickets, answering questions, survey administration after performances with both youth and adults, checking youth performers in at Gate Check-in, taking donations, welcoming groups upon arrival to festival grounds and checking in participants.
Special Requirements: * Be able to lift up to 15lbs, be familiar with the goals of LEAF Schools & Streets.
WELCOME TEAM (Parking)
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: Meet at Gate 3
Job Duties: You will be helping with our traffic control and keeping people going in the right direction.
Special Requirements: Must be able to give directions to public and stand in all weather conditions. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and good shoes (no sandals)
WeX
Available: Retreat & Festival
Location: WeX Headquarters
Job Duties: Assist the WeX team with answering of questions, directing festival attendees, and keeping WeX shifts organized
Special Requirements: GREAT customer service skills and a prior WeX
BUILD DANCE FLOOR
Available: Festival
When: Monday before LEAF Festival (9am to 6pm)
Location: Meet at LEAF Office, 377 Lake Eden Rd, Black Mountain
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Food is not provided, so be sure to bring your lunch with you. Not for those with back problems.
SET-UP EVENT
Available: Retreat & Festival
When: Monday–Tuesday–Wednesday–Thursday BEFORE LEAF Festival (9am to 6pm)
Location: Meet at LEAF office, 377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC.
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Be sure to check the weather report and dress appropriately. Food is not provided, so be sure to bring your lunch with you. Not for those with back problems.
**Thursday shifts require Plus or Star Level Commitment**
DECORATE
Available: Retreat & Festival
When: Tuesday–Wednesday BEFORE LEAF Festival (9am to 6pm)
Location: Meet at LEAF office, 377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC.
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Be sure to check the weather report and dress appropriately. Food is not provided, so be sure to bring your lunch with you. Not for those with back problems.
BREAK DOWN DANCE FLOOR
Available: Festival
When: Monday after LEAF Festival 10am to 7pm
Location: Brookside Dance Hall
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Not for those with back problems.
BREAK DOWN EVENT
Available: Retreat & Festival
When: Monday (10am to 7pm), Tuesday (9am to 6pm), and Wednesday (9am to 6pm) AFTER LEAF Festival
Location: Meet at LEAF office, 377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC.
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Be sure to check the weather report and dress appropriately. Food is not provided, so be sure to bring your lunch with you. Not for those with back problems, this is lots of moving things breaking down the festival.
GREEN TEAM
Available: Retreat & Festival
When: Monday (10am to 7pm) and Tuesday (9am to 6pm) AFTER LEAF Festival
Location: Meet at LEAF office, 377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC.
Special Requirements: Must be available for the entire time period and able to handle heavy lifting (50lbs +/-). Bring work gloves if you have them. Wear good shoes, no sandals please. Be sure to check the weather report and dress appropriately. Food is not provided, so be sure to bring your lunch with you. This is cleaning up around the festival grounds. Not for those with back problems.
Volunteer
LEAF Global Experience
YEAR-ROUND
LEAF Ambassadors (volunteers) help bring the LEAF Global Arts center to life each and every day! We depend on our community for support to fill our space with light and laughter while accompanying visitors on their journey of cultural exploration. Opportunities include assisting our welcome team at the front desk to greet and register visitors, provide guided tours through the space–special request for those who speak multiple languages including sign language and those with experience working with handicapable individuals and those who exist on the autism spectrum. We also have need for volunteers during specialty events where you can help create an atmosphere of LEAF Love and gratitude by serving local brews and beverages, assisting with event set-up and break down as well as generic customer service.
Community Member
This is the perfect level for those who have limited free-time but a drive to serve their community. We will put you on our mailing list for special volunteer request and you are free to join in whenever and however you can. You will work with LEAF to organize, promote, set-up, monitor and/or clean special events at the space with no volunteer minimum.
Docent Program
LEAF Docents give tours through the LEAF Global Arts experience primarily for school-aged student groups as well as tourist, community members and those looking to dive deeper into the world of cultural arts.
Program Support
Do you have a special skill? This is the perfect way to put it to good use! Our Program volunteers assist our Teaching Artist and community engagement staff on planning , creating and executing cultural arts programs geared towards families, educators and youth.
Internship Program
LEAF Global offers internships for current undergraduates and graduate students as well as high school juniors and seniors with signed parental consent.
Complete THIS FORM to apply as a Community Member supporting Special Events or a Docent.
Program Support Volunteers should email Volunteers@theLEAF.org with an overview of their skills, which program they’d like to support, and a resume if available.
Those interested in a LEAF Internship should complete THIS APPLICATION and return it to Info@theLEAF.org to be considered.