Event staff

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free admission to VMFA exhibitions

Employee pricing for programs and art

Discounts at VMFA Shop and cafes

Job summary

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond seeks dedicated Event Staff to ensure exceptional guest experiences at museum events. You will assist with serving, station replenishment, and guest support, while maintaining a polished appearance and professional conduct across varied assignments.

The role offers flexible scheduling and opportunities to work with a team of creative professionals in a prestigious cultural institution open 365 days. Prior event service experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills with guests and staff.
• Ability to read, comprehend and follow basic directions, floor plans and menus.
• Comfort handling fast-paced, high-volume event environments.
• Remain calm and professional during shifts and adapt to changing instructions.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and appearance during shifts.
• Prompt and punctual for scheduled shifts.
• Able to work as part of a team with flexible assignments.
• Physical ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Anticipate and accommodate guest needs in a professional manner.
• Serve food and beverages, replenish stations, and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Support other event-related activities as needed.
• Break down event areas and return space to pre-event status.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Professional demeanor

Reading comprehension

Ability to work in fast-paced settings

Calm under pressure

Punctuality

Teamwork

Physical stamina (lift up to 50 pounds

Job description

Post closes on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:55 PM EST.

About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA’s growing encyclopedic collection houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of world history.

Our holdings include the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionism, Postimpressionism, British sporting art, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan, and African art.

Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission.

VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.

About Food Services Department:

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), we facilitate beautiful memories.

Our Events Team is relentlessly passionate about their work. Every event detail is a touchpoint, a foundational pinning, evoking the right ambiance, feeling, and desired energy. Our dedicated service professionals bear witness and make possible some of the best days ever for our guests.

“…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Why Join the Events Team?

Flexible Scheduling

The team works to provide reasonable and advanced-scheduling notice to staff within the agreed upon availability. We are open 365 days a year, therefore there are a variety of shifts to work.

Team-centric

Work with people whose talents shine not only at work but also beyond work hours. Many of our staff are creatives who find an ease in serving others, have an eye for the details, and enjoy the flexibility this position offers.

Mission-Driven

Revenue from Events and other Enterprise operations directly supports museum operations. VMFA is the only art museum in the United States open 365 days a year with free general admission. Our purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art and to encourage the study of the arts.

Professional Environment

Professionalism is a key tenet in our workplace. We treat each other no less than how we treat our guests. Come create career-supportive relationships with some of the best service professionals in the industry. Learn and grow with us.

All VMFA staff enjoy free admission to special exhibitions, previews of special exhibitions, employee pricing for select museum programs and classes, and discounts at Amuse, Floris, Best Café and the VMFA Shop.

General Information:

The work is straightforward, making guests feel special.

Event Staff accommodate guests while remaining professional, engaged and motivated. During events, staff duties may include serving tables, replenishing food stations, clearing glassware and more. This position is also responsible for the setting up and breaking down of services items in event areas.

Here is how Event Staff accomplish this as part of a team:

• Anticipate and accommodate guest needs, respond to requests in a professional and polite manner.
• Serve fantastic fare to guests, replenish food stations, drinks, and ensure that guests’ needs are met.
• Support other event-related activities.
• Break down event area, returning space to pre-event status.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate a professional demeanor with guests and other employees.
• Ability to read, comprehend and follow basic directions, floor plans, menus and instruction.
• Ability to handle fast paced, high volume situations during an event.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and gracious in a fast paced, high-pressure environment.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and appearance during shifts.
• Ability to receive feedback well.
• Ability to be prompt and punctual to scheduled shifts.
• Ability to use fine and gross motor skills; finger and hand dexterity; reach with hands and arms;
• climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; and taste and smell.
• Ability to stand or walk for up to 10 hours.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Flexible availability that includes weekends and evenings.
• Ability to work as part of a team; flexible when given different assignments and directions.

Additional Considerations:

• Prior fine dining or food service experience, particularly in event service.
• Knowledge of fine dining, beer, wine and spirits.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with minimal supervision.
• ServSafe Food Handler’s certification is a plus.

Special Instructions:

Selected candidates must pass a criminal history background check.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer

VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer.

Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Experience a world-class art museum with hometown hospitality. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts houses a remarkable permanent collection of more than 50,000 works of art from almost every major world culture.

We’re open 365 days a year and general admission is always free.