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museum professions, some individuals pursue degrees or certificates in Museum Studies. While valuable in its own right, this particular disciplinary training is not typically required for museum careers when you have equivalent professional or graduate research experience. In many cases, a graduate degree in a research field
- Know Your Stuff
- Know Your Audience
- Know Your Docent Handbook
- Know the Art of Asking Questions
- It Takes All Kinds of Questions
- It’s Worth the Wait
- Know Who’s Boss
- Know Your Own “Star Power”
- Know How to Practice
Nothing helps a tour go smoothly like thoroughly knowing the material you are presenting. The objects and images in The Way We Worked tell a story, so take time to read the exhibition script, or better yet, go through the exhibition and familiarize yourself with the information and images you’ll be sharing with your visitors. Read the The Way We Wo...
Most visitors to The Way We Worked are already interested in music and roots music traditions and they bring with them their own experiences and their knowledge. They’ve come to the exhibition to learn more, to share their experiences, and to have fun. However, every visitor or group of visitors is different, so it’s important to assess your audien...
The The Way We Worked Docent Handbook will help you learn how to conduct your tour. It offers ideas, themes, and questions about the exhibition. There is an introductory section for each kiosk that provides you with the major theme (in a nutshell) of each exhibition kiosk. The “Think About It” sections give you some ideas or questions to “rev up” y...
There’s a knack to asking questions, encouraging visitors to participate, and limiting discussion time. Here are a few hints:
To facilitate a conversation, docents are encouraged to lead “inquiry-based” tours. So instead of reading from note cards or the The Way We Worked Docent Handbook, involve your visitors by asking them different types of questions. Try to elicit opinions, memories, ideas, and new questions. Here are some types of questions (based on the Aschner/Gall...
After asking a question, give your visitors some time to respond. Usually, someone will speak up in about ten seconds. This “wait time” may seem endless, but it’s worth the wait. If, after ten seconds, your group remains silent, a little coaxing is in order. Rephrase the question or redirect it to an individual. If you still don’t get an answer, tr...
You may occasionally experience an unhappy, unruly, or disruptive visitor. If you have an unruly student on your tour, remain calm and focused. Encourage his/her participation in the discussion. If the problem persists, ask the teacher or adult chaperone to remove the student from the tour. You are not responsible for discipline; you are responsibl...
In a way, docents are performers, so stage presence makes a difference. Here are some things to remember about performing your “starring role” as a docent: Follow your museum’s guidelines for attire, name tags, etc. Be confident! If you believe you could be Hollywood’s next big star, your visitors will too! Facial expressions are the primary way we...
Once you’ve explored The Way We Worked, read the docent handbook, and thought about the themes of the exhibition, it’s time to start practicing for your tour. Practice introducing yourself and welcoming your visitors. Then, walk yourself through the exhibition again and see what objects and images catch your eye. What aspects of the exhibition most...
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I have a BA (Hons) in History and a MA in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, but I kind of regret not going into fields that offer me better career opportunities. I started working in Visitor Services in museums at 18 while studying for my BA, but even after graduating from my MA at 22 and working/ volunteering for 4 different museums during this ...
Jul 14, 2016 · Internships operate in a wider museum environment and their equitable application has implications beyond any individual museum’s specific operation. Addressing internships alone will not, in fact, completely get us toward a larger vision of diversity, access, equity, and inclusion.
Sep 4, 2005 · As museums broaden their missions and search for new constituencies, learning is becoming a fresh and central concern for institutions as a whole, from curators to designers to directors. Across all departments, museums are increasingly seeing themselves as settings of learning theory in action.
Oct 30, 2019 · The type of museum educator you become depends largely on your education background and interests, of course. With a degree in art education, for example, you could become an art museum docent or guide. You could also work as a planner for educational museum programs and activities or a curator who plans and develops entire exhibits or collections.
Apr 18, 2024 · A museum studies degree can help you start a career with institutions of all sizes. These roles span entry-level to senior-level positions. Use this guide to help you discover 25 potential job opportunities if you've earned this type of degree:
