Opportunities

Work with Past Lives Makerspace, and help support Portland’s thriving creative arts community

JEWELRY GUILD LEAD FOR PAST LIVES

Do you love lapidary and leadership? Are you skilled at jewelry-making or metalsmithing? Then we need YOU!

Location: Inner S.E. Portland
Type: Volunteer Role with Membership Trade
Time Requirement: 10 hours Monthly

  • The Jewelry Guild Lead is responsible for supporting and growing the Jewelry Guild at Past Lives Makerspace. This role ensures that members have safe access to jewelry-making equipment, including the fabrication tables, soldering station, lapidary equipment, and (soon) casting setup. The Guild Lead acts as a point of contact for members interested in jewelry, helps organize orientations and classes, and works with the CEO, Operations Director, and other Guild Leads to ensure the guild’s success.

  • Oversee and coordinate the safe use of Jewelry Guild equipment:

    • Fabrication tables (Fab tables)

    • Soldering station

    • Lapidary equipment

    • Casting equipment (once operational)

    Approve and support instructors teaching jewelry classes.

    Ensure safety standards and best practices are followed.

    Host or coordinate orientations for new members in the Jewelry Guild.

    Serve as the primary point of contact for member questions, issues, and requests related to jewelry-making.

    Communicate scheduled classes, orientations, or closures in Discord so members are aware of shop use.

    Collaborate with staff and other guild leads to plan classes, events, and community showcases.

    Report repair or maintenance needs to the Repair Manager, who is responsible for equipment upkeep.

  • Experience in jewelry-making, metalsmithing, or related disciplines.

    Familiarity with jewelry tools and processes (fabrication, soldering, lapidary, casting).

    Commitment to safe shop practices and ability to train others.

    Strong communication and organizational skills.

    Enthusiasm for building community and supporting fellow makers.

    This role is well-suited for:

    Bench jewelers with experience in fabrication and soldering.

    Lapidary artists skilled in stone cutting, polishing, or cabochon work.

    Metalsmiths with a background in small-scale metal casting or jewelry design.

    Professional or teaching jewelers interested in mentoring and community engagement.

    Multi-disciplinary makers who combine jewelry with ceramics, textiles, or other craft areas.

  • This is a volunteer leadership role that includes a compensated membership to Past Lives Makerspace.


  • Send an email to both dixie@pastlives.space and lee@pastlives.space with:

    • A resume or portfolio (as attachments, not in the email)

    • A brief intro about yourself and why you’re interested in this opportunity

    • Links to your website or social media showcasing your work, if possible

    • Any other professional or volunteer experience you feel is relevant

    • Any questions you have!

PAST LIVES PRISON OUTREACH GUILD: CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Want to help make a difference in the lives of incarcerated artists?

  • Past Lives was founded by Morlock, a formerly incarcerated artist who wanted others to have access to what so many people lose after release: the chance to learn a trade, build real community, and earn a fair wage through creative work.

    That vision is at the heart of the Prison Outreach Guild.

    This Guild focuses on selling artwork made by currently incarcerated artists in Oregon prisons, creating a reliable way for adults in custody to share their work with the outside world. What began as a small effort has grown into a guild of more than 100 artists, working across a wide range of mediums — from watercolors and drawings to leather wallets, metal belt buckles, and beyond.

     From the beginning, we’ve worked intentionally to build honest relationships rooted in trust, consistency, and community — with artists, supporters and partners who believe in the value of creative work as a pathway to dignity and opportunity.

  • As the program has grown, so has the need for support behind the scenes. This is a volunteer role for people who believe in the mission of Past Lives and want to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Prison Outreach Guild. We’re hoping to find committed folks who are interested in helping steward the program into its next phase.

  • Roles are flexible and shaped around your skills…and there are many possibilities!

    • Helping staff markets, pop-ups, and community events

    • Framing and matting artwork (including painting or staining frames)

    • Photographing artwork for documentation, sales, and promotion

    • Responding to letters and program correspondence

    • Supporting social media posts and newsletters

    • Assisting with grant writing and reporting

    • Helping plan and execute fundraisers

    • Networking and outreach to identify new venues where artwork can be displayed and sold

  • This opportunity is especially well-suited for people who:

    • Have capacity to support the program consistently over time

    • Enjoy being part of something that’s still evolving

    • Want to help build systems, relationships, and sustainability

    • Are excited to brainstorm, problem-solve, and shape the future of the guild

    • Care deeply about art, justice, and community-led work

    Being part of the Prison Outreach Guild’s Art Program means you’re not just helping with tasks—you’re helping hold the structure that allows artists inside to keep creating and earning.

  • Volunteering with Past Lives means:

    • Supporting currently incarcerated artists in tangible, meaningful ways

    • Helping maintain a rare and trusted bridge between inside and outside communities

    • Gaining insight into how ethical, community-rooted art programs are built

    • Being part of a creative ecosystem that includes 14 (and counting) art/maker guilds

  • If this resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you.

    Send an email to both dixie@pastlives.space and lee@pastlives.space with: