Preparations are progressing well for October's arts extravaganza, the Canterbury Festival. Tickets are selling fast, and the small staff team are frantically tying up last minute organisational details. The performers who are invited to Canterbury are assured of a warm welcome and a comfortable stay as the Festival team make all their arrangements for travel, accommodation and even special diets. This has a beneficial knock-on effect on local hotels and restaurants, as most of the artists stay for at least one night in Canterbury.

But the team needs help. Festival Director Rosie Turner explains,

"We plan everything meticulously in advance but when it comes to the Festival fortnight, not even my amazingly hard-working staff can be in two places at once! Without the help of an army of volunteers we would find it impossible to offer the level of customer care and the warm Canterbury welcome for which we are famous. We want to appeal to anyone over 18 years of age who has an interest in music, theatre or simply working with people, to consider signing up to join our team. Helping at the Festival is great fun, and extremely rewarding - especially when you hear the sound of clapping from a happy audience."

Volunteers are needed to help staff 'front of house' - to take tickets at the doors, sell programmes and usher audiences to their seats. In many cases there are opportunities to meet the performers, hear some rehearsals, and certainly enjoy all the buzz of life backstage. Volunteers are supported at all times by the Festival staff and training is given to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy experience at the events.

"Several of our most experienced volunteers are now retiring after years and years of service. We urgently need to recruit and train some new helpers as the Festival expands. It's a fantastic way to meet people, great for the CV and frankly - we can't do it without you! Please help to make Canterbury Festival 2011 a storming success."

For full details of all Festival events and venues click here.  More information on volunteering opportunities can be found here or contact Kerry Barber kerry@canterburyfestival.co.uk / 01227 452 853 for details of how to apply.