Student Docent Application & Information

Docents at the Block Museum of Art …

 Provide access to exhibitions by engaging visitors in stimulating and probing conversations about art works.

 Become museum ambassadors to the university and community

 Enjoy looking, learning and talking about art. Sharing ideas.

 Respond and interact with visiting students, children and adults from a variety of backgrounds. Docent classes provide training and information about new exhibitions, museum collection, public speaking, tour planning and practice.

 Lead and plan peer to peer exhibition and collection engagement.

Docent Benefits Include

 Experience. Public speaking, tour development and program planning are skills that will serve you forever.

 Museum Access. Docents receive “behind the scenes” looks at exhibits, museum professionals and insight into museum workings.

 Meaningful Engagement. Becoming a docent brings provides access to art for our audiences.

 Free Pass to Block Cinema. Docents receive yearlong passes to Block Cinema programs.

 Income. Docents in-training during fall quarter are paid $9 per hour, docents who successfully complete training and become docents, receive $11 per hour starting in winter quarter. Docents commit to the museum by …

 Training. Docents attend 8 weekly training sessions on Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:17pm, complete readings, homework assignments, practice and develop tour effective tours. Learn about museum audiences.

 Participation. New exhibitions require training and study; guest and curator lectures, walk- throughs and readings are scheduled through out the academic year. Your attendance is required for readings and curator talks, and highly encouraged at guest lectures.

 Tours. Docents commit to leading at minimum of 2 tours per quarter. Tours are scheduled throughout the week and we need to be able to reach you.

 Flexibility. Docents are important ambassadors for the museum to the university and public at large, it is important that you are able to respond to the needs of visitors and large groups.

Deadlines

Applications for the 2013 Docent Training Program are due by noon on Monday, May 6th, 2013. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 5-7:15 pm beginning October 3th, 2013, the last day of training is November 21th, 2013. Please submit your completed application via email to [email protected], deliver in person to the museum, or via regular mail to:

Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Student Docent Program 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Select applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Questions? Contact the Education Office at [email protected], or by phone at 847.491.4852

Not enough time to be a Student Docent?

The Block is also accepting applications to be on the volunteer Student Advisory Board.

For more information and an application to be on the advisory board visit: http://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/about/opportunities/jobs.html

Block Museum Student Docent Application- 2013 Application 2 Student Docent Program Application 2013

Date: Please print or type clearly. Name: Email:

Phone: Year/School:

Majors:

Please answer the following questions using no more than 100 words per answer. Feel free to attach an additional sheet. Describe a memorable museum or art experience

Why do you want to become an art museum docent? Why do you specifically want to work at the Block Museum?

Block Museum Student Docent Application- 2013 Application 3 Please describe a successful leadership experience with a group of peers or children in which you have participated.

List the qualities or traits you think make a successful docent.

Please list other extracurricular activities are you involved in; include the time commitment required by these activities.

Have you been to the Block Museum before? If so, when?.

Block Museum Student Docent Application- 2013 Application 4 How did you hear about the Block Museum student program?

Block Museum Student Docent Application- 2013 Application 5