Volunteer docents are invaluable to the Honolulu Museum of Art. They play an important role in implementing the museum’s education mission by guiding groups of all ages on a variety of tours of the Honolulu Museum of Art's collections and exhibitions. Professionals from all walks of life—doctors, businesspeople, professors, teachers, and artists, to name a few—are Honolulu Museum of Art docents. Prior knowledge of art is not required—you just have to have a passion to help others enjoy art.
Docent training course 2013
The next docent training program runs February through May and focuses on the museum's school tours, as part of our growing educational programs. The course aims to create a docent corps specializing in student tours. Classes are held Mondays, 9am-4pm. Course of study includes a short lecture series providing a general overview of art history; an expriential approach to learn specific works of art used in student tours; and workshops on media/technique, learning styles, and teaching techniques. The course is conducted by staff from the museum's education department and experienced docents.
Course topics: Art and Life in Early America, Let's Sketch, See Art Make Art (Masterpieces, Identity and Animals), Animals in Art, Literature in Art, Math in Art, Kamishibai, Art of the Pacific, Picturing Hawai‘i, Discover Your Museum, Art of the Ancient World, World Religions.
Class requirements: Docent trainees are required to complete extensive reading assignments, follow ongoing school tours, present mini-practice tours to fellow trainees, participate in the evaluation process, prepare written sample tours, and eventually lead school groups on their own. Membership in the Honolulu Museum of Art is optional, but highly recommended.
Tuition: Tuition is $175/semester plus the cost of textbooks (approximately $250 for the course).
Service: Upon satisfactory completion of each practice tour, trainees will conduct tours on the themes they have studied to date. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, docents will receive a diploma and agree to a minimum five-year service commitment. Docents are expected to give a weekly tour during the school year.
How to apply
We invite you to apply for the Honolulu Museum of Art Docent Council by completing the online application.
After we receive your application, we will call you to make an appointment for your interview.
If you have questions, please call Betsy Robb, Director of Tour and Docent Programs, at 808-532-3666.
