Members
of the Docent Corps
Contact:
Teresa Kimmel
Kathy Abbott
Carol Bidstrup
Mary Jane Spurgeon
Loretta Knight
Ron Tepley
Luba Ambrose
Monica Brenner
Genevieve Khafil
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In the art museum world, a docent is not considered
an ordinary guide, but an informed leader and teacher presenting the
objects of exhibitions to others. Volunteering as a docent can be
one of the most rewarding activities in self-education as well as
in public service.
The docent provides the personal contact of the Cultural
Center of Fine Art's public, informing young people and adults. The
docent makes the art work come alive, thus stimulating an interest
in the arts and in the artists who created them. Because the docent
is working with original objects, the docent offers learning experiences
from a personal point of view.
The secret of successful docentry lies in the methods
used to do the teaching. The docent uses the inquiry method by asking
provocative questions and leads the visitor to be an active participant.
This input by the visitor assumes greater retention of knowledge gained
and is certain to make the visitor most enriching experience.
Overview of Docent Program
Purpose: To acquire
and maintain a volunteer group that is prepared to conduct tours of
exhibits with school groups and adults.
Training: The Parkersburg Art Center provides leadership that organizes and trains the docent core.
Training consists of art history, basic art principles, and methods
of proper tour guiding techniques.
Volunteering: Docents are expected to
attend two meetings a month, do independent research, observe tours,
and conduct tours.
Docents are an integral part of a museum staff. Without
docents, school tours and other outreach programs would not be possible.
