If you have a passion for art, want to learn more about it and share what you learn with others, the Albany Museum of Art’s docent program may be the perfect way to start out the new year.
 
Docents are trained museum volunteers who engage AMA visitors to enrich their experiences with the art exhibitions while also creating a warm, welcoming environment. You can learn the details on how to become an AMA docent at an introductory session at 10 am on Saturday, Jan 12, 2019 at the museum, located at 311 Meadowlark Drive.
 
“You don’t have to be an artist or an art historian, or have any background in art,” said Chloe Hinton, director of education and public programming for the AMA. “They’re museum representatives who guide our guests through the exhibitions and provide information and highlights about the artwork.”
 
Docents must be 18 or older, Hinton said. Other characteristics these museum volunteers need, she said, are “the ability to work with visitors of all ages, the willingness to speak in front of individual visitors and groups, the enthusiasm to share information, and an interest in learning more about the art we have on display here at the AMA.”
 
“We’ll go over the details of what docents do at the Saturday session,” Hinton said. “We’ll talk about what’s required to be a docent and when most docents are needed.”
 
The volunteers must be willing to learn about new and established ways of engaging museum guests. They also must be willing to make the necessary commitments to both training and touring.
 
Part of the program will be special behind-the-scenes experiences for the docents, Hinton said.
 
“They will get tours of the new exhibitions and they’ll have special meetings with the curator on the exhibitions,” she said.
 
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS AT THE AMA
 
Home Tour: Artists Investigating Interiors, Domesticity and Identity is exhibiting in the Haley Gallery;
 
Benjamin Britton: This Unfolding Idyll is exhibiting in the West Gallery;
 
Brian Dettmer: Selective Collective Memories is exhibiting in the East Gallery.