Becoming a Docent

What is a Docent?
A docent is a teacher, serving the Museum and the community in the field of art education. The word “docent” is derived from the Latin word “docere”’ meaning “to teach”. Docents are knowledgeable, enthusiastic people who act as liaisons between the Museum and the general public. They are professional volunteer museum staff members.

What does a Docent do?
Docents contribute to The Dayton Art Institute in several ways:
Touring: Docents serve as tour guides for children and adults visiting the museum. Tours are given for all special exhibitions as well as the permanent collection.

Docent on Call: Docents provide tours of the permanent collection or the special exhibition to drop in visitors on select days and times.
Research: Docents may help prepare information on works of art in the museums collection, special exhibitions or new acquisitions.

What does the training program involve?
The museum’s education department, curators and veteran docents provide an initial period of training to new docents covering topics in art history and art making along with specific training on how to give tours. This training program generally begins in September and goes through May with time off for holidays. Toward the end of the training period, new docents will present a gallery talk to their docent class and develop a “mini-tour” on one aspect of the collection. They will give this tour to a small group of education staff and veteran docents. New docents are expected to shadow veteran docents on tours during this time. New docents are also assigned to a mentor docent who will give them individualized assistance.

How much of a time commitment will be required?
After this initial training period new docents join the veteran docents in giving tours and serving as “Docent on Call”. Docents must select at least one day of the week to commit to touring. This can be a Tuesday through Sunday or Thursday evening. Docents may select more than one day and must indicate a secondary or substitute day to be called if needed. Docents generally tour a minimum of 2 times per month.

Al docents continue training on a weekly basis usually attending around 26 meetings a year with December and most of the summer off. Typically, training for veteran docents takes place on Monday mornings from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Training involves preparation for all special exhibitions and further training on the collection, thematic tours and touring techniques.

If you are interested in becoming a docent please contact Susan Anable, Director of Education at (937) 223-5277 extension 333. Your name will be kept until another class opens.