Does Being Around Art Bring You Joy?

Would You Like to Give Back to Your Community?

The Meadows Museum is looking for volunteers who enjoy learning as much as connecting visitors with the art in our galleries. Through active engagement and hands-on experiences, our docents strive to turn kids and adults alike into art lovers. In addition to providing an invaluable service to the museum, becoming a docent offers a deep dive into Spain’s rich cultural heritage as well as social connections with like-minded arts enthusiasts.

The Meadows Museum Docent Program seeks a diverse cross section of the community and does not discriminate based upon identity in all of its many forms. Through weekly Monday- and Thursday-morning training throughout the academic year, the museum provides the art history and art training that aspiring docents will need to successfully make visitors feel welcome as well as enlightened. Spanish language ability is helpful but not required.

Docent Program Overview and Commitment

All Meadows Museum docents are required to attend weekly training sessions throughout the academic year. Additionally, docents are required to give 3–5 hours of service to the museum per month.

New Docent Training Program

  • The Meadows Museum seeks a minimum 3–5-year commitment from all incoming docents-in-training.
  • All docents-in-training must successfully complete a one-year training program between August 2023 and May 2024. Classes meet twice per week at the Meadows Museum:
    • Mondays, 10:15–11:45 AM: All docents-in-training attend training sessions with the entire docent corps. Docents-in-training will continue attending these Monday sessions after completion of the New Docent Training Program.
    • Thursdays, 10:15–11:45 AM: Thursday sessions are exclusively for docents-in-training and are designed to train new docents on both historical content and gallery teaching strategies. New Docent Training will culminate in docents-in-training co-teaching a tour for a visiting school group in late April or early May.
  • In addition to attending training sessions, docents-in-training will be required to observe a number of tours led by active museum docents.

Priority consideration given to candidates that:

  • Are excited to engage elementary- and middle school-aged children with works of art through discussion and dialogue
  • Demonstrate a curiosity about ways to engage people with art
  • Have some availability to tour school groups between 10 am – 2 pm
  • Feel comfortable facilitating hands-on art activities designed by museum staff
  • Bring new perspectives to the existing docent corps
  • Speak Spanish

Docent Program Benefits:

  • Personal fulfillment from contributing to the community
  • Access to leading scholars and museum professionals throughout the United States and the world
  • Curatorial-led previews of special exhibitions
  • Camaraderie with fellow docents
  • Social activities and outings with docent corps

Additional Docent Program Requirements:

  • Maintain an active Meadows Museum membership
  • Undergo a background check conducted through HireRight, SMU Department of Human Resources’ third-party contractor
  • Pay a one-time $40 fee to help defray the cost of the background check. Financial assistance is available if this cost is prohibitive.
  • Complete SMU liability waivers and emergency contact details
  • Pay annual docent dues of $30 once committing to the program
  • Technology: Communicate with museum staff through email and use online scheduling software to sign-up for tours

Curious and want to know more?

If you are interested and would like additional information, please watch our informational Zoom session, recorded Monday, July 10: https://youtu.be/TEAu1dITLuU

Apply

Questions?

Please contact Nancy Israel (nisrael@smu.edu) with any questions.