Docent training has always been a high priority at the Bruce Museum. Docents lead school and adult groups in the Museum and act as Museum ambassadors to the public.

Being a Docent is a privilege of Membership.

Prospective Docents should be:

• Enthusiastic
• People friendly
• Eager to learn and share
• Flexible
• Interested in giving tours that generate conversations with their audience through questions (inquiry-based)
• Ready to be the Museum's ambassador to the public
• Interested in leading groups of children, teens, and/or adults

The time commitment in a Docent's first year includes:

A Docent in Training must contribute a minimum of 30 tours (may include team teaching) and 15 tour observations, a follow-up certification tour, and a final project. These requirements must be met within the first tour-training year. A docent candidate must satisfactorily fulfill all requirements by December 31 to achieve active-docent status.

Docents-in-Training are expected to attend ALL Monday Training Sessions. You will need to plan extra time outside of the classroom for completing readings practicing your tours. Each candidate will be assigned a mentor from the start of the program. This person will help you with practice tours. When you and your mentor feel that you are ready, the Manager of School and Tour Services will test your final tour presentation.

During the training, all trainees must complete written homework assignments and allow time outside of class to practice the tours before qualifying for certification. All trainees will complete mid-term and final exams. There is a final tour observation requirement outside of regular touring that must be completed by the end of the first year as a docent.

Docent trainees are required to sign a contract agreeing to commit to the program requirements and agree to a one-year commitment to the Bruce Museum after the first year of training.

In return for their time and dedication, Docents receive:

• Curators' tours/previews of new exhibitions
• In-depth information about exhibitions
• Exhibition related lecture series
• Training in providing inquiry-based tours and public speaking
• Discussions on educational theory and learning development
• Trips to other museums
• Opportunity to attend the bi-annual Connecticut Art Docent Symposium

Applications are accepted year-round, and once they are on file we will stay in touch with applicants about dates and times for new training sessions. New Docents Training begins September of each year.

For more information about our docent program please contact Diane Myers, Manager of School and Tour Services, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (203) 413-6741.

Download a Docent Program Application