Volunteer

Hugo is the House that volunteers built. In our first years, volunteers helped remodel the House; they created and ran programs like InPrint and ZAPP and Hugo Classes for Kids; they volunteered countless hours in our offices. Today, volunteers continue to do essential work for all of our programs. We couldn't run Hugo House without them.

As a volunteer or intern, you can become part of the talented and dedicated team that keeps this place humming. Whether you end up mentoring a young writer, cataloging in ZAPP, stuffing envelopes, or drinking lots of coffee with us, your contribution to Hugo House will help you strengthen your connection to the Seattle writing community, explore your talents, gain work experience, and make friends.

Please read about our internship and volunteer opportunities; then submit an application.

Current Internship Opportunities

Check back for ZAPP internship opportunities in the near future!

Volunteer Opportunities

Youth Programs. Are you an accomplished writer interested in working with youth? Richard Hugo House is looking for enthusiastic and engaging writers to serve as adult mentors during the 2012/2013 school year. Do you have what it takes to help an emerging teenage writer finish their novel, write their first performance poem, or otherwise explore the world of writing and expand their skills? The Young Writers Mentorship Project needs you!

Download the Adult Mentors Application here. 

Administrative support/odd jobs. This volunteer job can run the gamut from stuffing envelopes to providing event support. These are great opportunities for people who want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of working at a nonprofit organization. Administrative volunteers must have some availability Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Zine Archive and Publishing Project (ZAPP) volunteers tend the zine library, assist visitors, and read and catalog zines. Volunteers must be able to make a three month commitment of two hours per week. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday availability is a plus.

Facilities. Are you good with a paintbrush? Do you like to garden? Help us keep Hugo House bright and shiny and spic-n-span by volunteering for the facilities department.

Special events. We host literary events throughout the year, and most of these special events need volunteer support during setup, at the door, in the bar, and afterward during cleanup. If you have a license to serve alcohol or a food handler's permit, please let us know. If you have a knack for digital photography, let us know that too.

Drop in for a volunteer orientation to become an active volunteer! Orientations occur the fourth Monday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m., except in May, when it will be on Tuesday, May 28. To tell us a little more about yourself, please submit a volunteer application. Thanks for your interest in volunteering!