Volunteer docents are invaluable to the Honolulu Museum of Art. They play a big part in implementing the museum’s education mission by guiding groups of all ages on a variety of tours of the Honolulu Museum of Art collections. Professionals from all walks of life—doctors, businesspeople, professors, and artists, to name a few—are Honolulu Museum of Art docents.
Docent training course
To become a docent, candidates must take a four-semester (56 weeks over two years) training course, which is offered when additional docents are needed. The next course begins in winter 2011 and runs through 2012, meeting once a week. Classes are held on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are divided into three parts: an experiential approach to a particular gallery in the museum conducted by the education department staff, museum curators, and qualified docents; an art history lecture a university professor, curator or other specialist from the art community, and workshops on media/technique and tour presentations, including practice tours.
Everyone who passes the Docent Training Program becomes a member of the Docent Council, a professional organization with by-laws and elected officers. Docent Council members may attend continuing education classes to prepare for major Honolulu Museum of Art exhibitions and to learn new teaching skills or tours. Special training sessions are conducted by the education staff, curators, university professors, docents, and other specialists, and cover specific works in the exhibition and relevant background material.
The Honolulu Museum of Art Docent Council provides educational enhancement, fun and camaraderie, and the great personal satisfaction of sharing one's knowledge and enjoyment of art with others.
Course topics
Survey of world art though an overview of the museum
First year: Western, African, Pacific, Pre-Hispanic and Native America art
Second year: China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia
Class requirements
Extensive reading, exams, research papers, evaluations, and written sample tours. Membership in the Honolulu Museum of Art is optional, but highly recommended.
Tuition
Tuition is $175 per semester plus the cost of textbooks (approximately $250 for the course).
Service
Upon satisfactory completion of each semester, trainees will be allowed to conduct tours concentrating on the art they have studied to date. Upon satisfactory completion of the second year of instruction, docents will receive a diploma and agree to a five-year service commitment. Docents are expected to give a weekly tour, or 50 tours each 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.
