Docent Resource Guide Revised 2017 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Docent Resource Guide Welcome to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Docent Resource Guide 2 Docent Resource Guide Table of Contents KIA and Docent Mission Statements and Goals 5 KIA and Docent Histories 7 Docent By Laws 13 KIA Fast Facts 17 Museum Job Descriptions 19 KIA Emergency Procedures 21 KIA Tour Guidelines and Procedures 25 Emergency Procedures Tour Procedures Post-Tour Self-Evaluation Tour Techniques 31 Touring Adults Ways to Say “Don’t Touch” Talking About Nudity Visitors With Special Needs School Children: Vocabulary, Ages, and Stages Inquiry Methods and Interactive Activities Art Reference: Vocabulary and Art Movements 47 www.kiarts.org, Wiki page Building and Gallery Map 61 3 Docent Resource Guide 4 Docent Resource Guide KIA Mission Statements and Goals Do-cent (n.) from the Latin “do-cere” 1: a teacher or lecturer 2: a person who conducts groups through a museum or art gallery KIA Belief Statement: Mission and Goals The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is a leading nonprofit art museum and school. Since 1924, the institute has offered art classes, exhibitions, lectures, events, activities, and a permanent collection. The KIA's mission is to cultivate the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in West Michigan. We believe the visual arts are for everyone. They inspire, fulfill, and transform. Throughout the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, numerous individuals work every day to enrich the lives of others through the visual arts. In addition, faculty members in the Kirk Newman Art School instruct students of all ages in a wide variety of media. KIA Educational Philosophy: The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Museum Education Program works to cultivate curiosity and interest in, as well as knowledge of the visual arts in our visitors. 5 Docent Resource Guide Docent Mission Statement KIA Docent Mission Statement: The mission of the KIA docents is to aid visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the experience of the museum, appreciate and understand works of art. We achieve this through programs and materials that develop our audience’s ability to: Describe, analyze, interpret, and evaluate works of art. Construct meaningful questions for investigation. Discuss and analyze information discovered. Appreciate art from different time periods and cultures. Be aware of creativity, imagination, and expressiveness found in visual art. Become regular museum visitors and supporters of the arts. Docents meet these objectives by designing tours according to the educational objectives of each group, using a variety of techniques including inquiry-based discussions and hands-on activities to keep visitors actively engaged. Above all, we want visitors to have enjoyable museum experiences, feel comfortable in the galleries, and make personal connections with the objects. Docents Must Have: A love of learning. The ability to relate to people. Be friendly and visible as ambassadors for the KIA to the community. The ability to gather and organize information in a style appropriate for teaching and sharing. Docent Benefits and Privileges: Gain new insights and information about current exhibitions and the KIA collection. Gain additional knowledge from visiting scholars, curators, jurors, and artists. Share fellowship with other KIA docents and docents nationwide. Experience the joy involved with opening up the world of art to visitors of all ages. Share information with other docents through study groups and trips to other museums. Use of the KIA Library, including books, videos, and other educational materials. Receive monthly newsletter announcing educational opportunities, trips, and docent business. 6 Docent Resource Guide KIA and Docent Histories studio art. Visiting instructors included Judson Smith, George Rickey and Philip Evergood. 1933: The Board of Education reduced funding for the museum, although they offered the use of the space. The Curator’s salary and all other expenses were covered by a small endowment, gifts and membership fees. The KIA continued to use the house for the next 1924: The Kalamazoo Chapter of the 11 years, receiving annual requests to vacate American Federation of Arts is incorporated the premises from the Board of Education. into the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Its first 1934: Diego Rivera is the first of many location was a rented room in the old YWCA lecturers including Thomas Hart Benton, Frank on Rose Street. Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. Exhibitions 1928: KIA affiliates with the Board of included Picasso, Klee, Japanese prints and Education and moves with the Kalamazoo ceramics. Annual area exhibitions, student Library and Public Museum into the old Peck exhibits, and shows by local artists helped Mansion, 335 S. Rose St. promote and encourage both new and 1930: Due to overcrowding, the KIA and established artists. Public Museum move into the Kauffer House 1947: KIA moves from Kauffer House after at 347 S. Rose St. W.E. Upjohn provided purchasing the American Legion building at $40,000 towards its purchase with the Board of 421 W. South St. The large Victorian mansion Education supplying the remaining $20,000. enabled the KIA to expand exhibitions as well After modest renovations, Mr. A.M. Todd as programs in studio art and art appreciation. placed paintings from his collection in the 1951: The Clothesline Fair, now the Annual rooms on the first floor and the upper floor was Arts Fair, begins in Bronson Park. The fair turned over to the KIA. The arrangement began as an art show to provide an opportunity between the KIA and Board of Education for local artists to exhibit and sell their work. It included space for exhibits, classes and other has grown into a juried show which now brings activities as well as the services of a curator. artists from across the U.S. and Canada. As activities for the KIA consumed more of 1955: The Kalamazoo Art League is founded the curator’s time, the idea of a unified to provide auxiliary art enrichment. Museum of Arts, Science and History was 1956: W. E. Upjohn estate makes a gift to the abandoned and the union with the Board of Kalamazoo Foundation of 500 shares of Education was dissolved. Upjohn Company stock for the benefit of the 1931: KIA begins offering art classes to both KIA. In 1958, the Foundation announces the children and adults. By 1932, the local Palette establishment of a $500,000 endowment. Mr. and Chisel Club, whose members promoted and Mrs. Donald S. Gilmore announce their adult classes in the visual arts, joined with the intended gift of an art center building. KIA to provide a strong, unified program of 1960s: New $1 million Art Center, designed 7 KIA and Docent Histories Docent Resource Guide by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, opens with 1982: Candidate classes were formed every a staff of 15. Over the next 30 years space other year, and a formal 18-month curriculum becomes scarce as the exhibition schedule, was designed including media, art history, tour school offerings, outreach services, and techniques, observations and practice tours. museum education programs, as well as staff Active docents were requested to come to continued to increase. The building was in training sessions for each new exhibit and need of a renovation to improve the air study groups were formed for further handling system, upgrade the school class- enrichment. Organized trips also became part rooms, and accommodate new technology. The of continuous learning. The first Docent Friends of Art, a fund-raising arm of the KIA Council was formed with Peggy Strong as was also responsible for tour requests. Marge President and Marcia Kalb as Secretary. The Meyer scheduled volunteer guides to give tours KIA Board of Directors agreed that the of the building. Informational cards were President of the Council should represent the distributed to the guides. docents on the Board. 1975: Peggy Strong began a group called 1985: Linda Young was hired as Education Gallery Greeters so that visitors would feel Coordinator and attends National Docent welcome at the KIA. Greeters spent afternoons Symposium to present a workshop on the at a desk in the back gallery. ARTist Program as a school-community 1976: Millie Pritchard hired as part-time collaboration. Total attendance for tours that Librarian, Public Relations and Tour year was 3,480. Coordinator. 1990: James A. Bridenstine becomes 1979: The Upjohn Company offered funds to Executive Director of the KIA. Linda Young bring 5th graders from the Kalamazoo Public is promoted to Curator of Education. Schools. This was the beginning of the ARTist 1994-97: Power of Art campaign kicked off Program, a two-hour visit including a gallery with a goal of raising $12.5 million dollars for tour and hands-on studio project. The program the expansion and renovation project. Peggy eventually expanded to include all Kalamazoo Strong represents the Midwest Docents on the County schools. Some of the Friends/Gallery National Docent Symposium Council. Tour Greeters stayed to become ―docents.‖ attendance grows to 6,778. Instructors for docents were KIA school 1997-98: Construction begins under direction faculty and staff as well as educators from of Boston architectural firm, Ann Beha and other museums, colleges, and universities. Associates. The staff and gallery spaces 1980: Millie Pritchard became Education and relocated to 458 South Street. Classes were Information Coordinator. Peggy Strong taught held at community sites throughout the county. an art history survey course and a six-week No touring due to KIA renovations. Docents training in various media as part of basic spend the year studying American art history docent training. and the permanent collection in preparation for 1981: Millie Pritchard and Peggy Strong touring in the new building. In June 1998, the attend the National Docent Symposium school wing reopens and classes resume. In in Milwaukee. September, the new facility was opened to the 8 KIA and Docent Histories Docent Resource Guide public.