Volunteers are the lifeblood of small non-profit organizations like ImageOut. Many patrons don’t realize how many people help out behind the scenes or how many different things they volunteer their time to do. Here’s a little about the work each ImageOut volunteer committee does:

Development Committee

The Development Committee creates opportunities and relationships to support membership activities and funding initiatives. In conjunction with the Managing Director and Board of Directors, the Committee assists in identifying and pursuing funding from individual, business, foundation, and government sources. The Committee also helps identify and execute special activities that enhance the donor experience.

ImageOutArt Committee

The ImageOutArt Committee produces an annual art exhibition and events unique to Western New York which expand ImageOut’s scope as a supporter of regional LGBTQ+ artists. The show is typically a juried exhibition highlighting LGBTQ+ art in general or focusing on a particular subject, such as marriage or gender. ImageOutArt has taken some departures from the juried format, hosting several curated shows in recent years.

ImageOutWrite Committee

The ImageOutWrite Committee prepares, designs, and produces the annual ImageOutWrite LGBTQ+ literary journal.

Marketing / PR Committee

The Marketing /PR Committee creates a broader public presence for ImageOut by working with local and social media. The committee manages the public presence and brand of ImageOut through its promotion of events and programs.

Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee supports ImageOut’s belief that everyone should have the opportunity to be part of ImageOut. Our goal is to reach more people every year. The Outreach Committee supports ImageOut by offering interpreting services for the deaf and hard of hearing, wheelchair accessibility, and free tickets for individuals of limited financial means and discounted tickets for college students and seniors. We also support the Next Generation Film Series, devoted to films by, for, and about LGBTQ+ youth.

The Outreach Committee also connects ImageOut’s patrons during the annual Festival with community organizations through the Community Partner Program. Arts organizations, social clubs, volunteer groups, churches, and health care facilities are paired with Festival programs and are given the opportunity to briefly address the audience.

Programming Committee

The Programming Committee screens hundreds of films and videos to create the final Festival schedule. This requires research and awareness of current and available films for LGBTQ+ film festivals. They send out a Call for Work to solicit films worldwide. Finally, members of the committee write the film descriptions for the Festival program.

Programming Screening Sub-Committee

This committee works as a sub-committee of Programming. There is a limited number of slots for the Programming Committee in order for it to be an effective and manageable decision-making group. Not all volunteers can be part of Programming. This sub-committee allows other volunteers to experience screening films for the Festival. Members of the Screening Sub-committee attend group screenings and give input on the films they have seen with the group. This sub-committee is also designed to accommodate volunteers who do not have the required time availability to be on the Programming Committee.

Publications/Web Committee

The Publications Committee provides the community with information and updates promoting the Festival, its activities, and programs. The committee produces a quarterly newsletter and maintains the Festival website (www.imageout.org) with frequent updates and enhancements. It is also involved with the development and production of flyers, forms, invitations, surveys, brochures, post cards, print advertisements, online banner ads, and the annual Festival program in support of the Festival in general and specific needs of other committees.

Special Events Committee

The Special Events Committee coordinates events throughout the year, from our pride parade float during ROC Pride to the kickoff parties and closing receptions during our film festivals.

Theatre Operations Committee

The Theatre Operations committee is responsible for the operations of all the film related events throughout the year. Tasks include taking tickets, handing out and collecting surveys and ballots, setting up reserved seats and interpreting equipment, and keeping the theaters neat and clean between movies.

Ticket Sales Committee

The Ticket Sales Committee, well, not surprisingly, we sell the tickets, taking care of hundreds of orders each fall, as well as for any events throughout the year.