Albany Museum of Arts hosting Saturday session seeking docents

ALBANY ─ Those who have a passion for art, want to learn more about it and share what they learn with others may find the perfect outlet in the Albany Museum of Arts docent program.

Docents are trained museum volunteers who engage AMA visitors to enrich their experience with the art exhibitions while also creating a warm, welcoming environment. They can learn the details on how to become an AMA docent at an introductory session set for 10 a.m. on Saturday at the museum.

“You don’t have to be an artist or an art historian, or have any background in art,” Chloe Hinton, director of education and public programming for the AMA, said. “They’re museum representatives who guide our guests through the exhibitions and provide information and highlights about the artwork.”

Hinton said docents must be 18 or older. 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,” she said. “We’ll talk about what’s required to be a docent and when most docents are needed.”

Officials said 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 include “Home Tour: Artists Investigating Interiors, Domesticity and Identity” in the Haley Gallery and “Benjamin Britton: This Unfolding Idyll” in the West Gallery.

The AMA, located at 311 Meadowlark Drive, is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and noon-5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.

For more information about the AMA, visit www.albanymuseum.com or call (229) 439-8400.

Jennifer Parks