Becoming a Docent

Are you interested in art and communicating with people? Philbrook Museum is accepting applications from individuals interested in becoming a Philbrook docent. No previous museum experience or knowledge of the arts is necessary.

For more information on the docent program, including how to obtain an application, please read below.

What is a Docent?
A docent is a teacher, serving the museum and community in the field of education. The word docent is derived from the Latin word docere, meaning to teach. Philbrook docents are knowledgeable, enthusiastic volunteers who act as liaisons between the Museum and the general public.

What do Philbrook Docents do?
Touring: Docents serve as guides for groups of museum visitors, both children and adults. Docents also have opportunities to help visitors enjoy their museum experience through casual touring.
Research: Docents assist the museum’s education staff in preparing background information on works of art in the museum’s collection, special exhibitions and new acquisitions.
Outreach: Docents give presentations at schools and to community organizations.
Facilitate: Docents conduct experiential art activities with museum visitors.

How long will training take?
The Docent Intern Training Program is facilitated over a nine month period of time (27 three hour sessions).

What does the training program involve?
Docent Intern Training prepares prospective docents to conduct tours of Philbrook’s permanent collection and facilitate museum related experiential activities. Interested people should not feel intimidated–an art history or education background is not required– the Intern Training will provide the learning necessary to become a successful docent. Philbrook’s docents come from a wide range of professions and backgrounds.

How much time and commitment will be required?
Docent Interns meet three hours a week for 27 sessions held from September through mid-May. Every other year the training is held either on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or on Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m. No meetings are held after the second week in December through the first week of January. Additional hours, however, are required for practice and for attending various museum related continuing education opportunities.

Commitment
Docents are required to be members of the Philbrook Museum of Art and are expected to fulfill touring and continuing education obligations (e.g., 25 touring hours for the first two years, plus obtain five continuing education credits per year).

Why should I consider becoming a docent?
Docents can expect to be rewarded with life long learning opportunities in the arts, camaraderie of Philbrook’s docents and staff, and satisfying experiences from sharing your knowledge with museum visitors.

How do I become a docent?
Applications are available by contacting the Education Coordinator at (918) 748-5309, or email rtyner@philbrook.org. You may also download an application by clicking on the link below.

Click here for a PDF of a Docent Application you may print.