Teen Docent Program at the Danforth Museum of Art

Teen Docents

The Teen Docent program at the Danforth Museum and School of Art begins each year in the summer, with applications due each spring. The program includes eight weeks of Museum and School of Art training. Teen Docents learn public-speaking skills and tour techniques to guide children's classes and families in looking at art throughout the year. They explore art careers, take art classes in the School of Art, visit regional museums, and engage with exhibiting artists through studio visits and gallery talks.

Who are the Teen Docents? Teen Docents are high school students interested in learning about art and the art museum experience. They train during the summer to lead interactive tours for children and families. Their training helps them prepare questions, think on their feet in front of an audience, and accept and encourage multiple interpretations of a work of art. Free art classes (from the Danforth's Teen Art Programs) increase their understanding of the processes and materials involved in the creation of art. At the same time, Teen Docents get a behind-the-scenes perspective on how the museum functions by meeting staff members and notable guest speakers from the art world.

Watch this five minute video, Where Something Special Happens, which describes the teen docent and other educational programs offered by the museum.

In the fall Teen Docents have the option to apply for a paid internship at the Museum. Throughout the school year, they will continue to work with families to interpret art in the galleries, and will assist with art classes and educational programming, such as Drop into Art, offered on the first Sunday of each month.

Tell me more! Learn more about teen art events. Read what the Boston Globe had to say in the article, “Young docents draw on new experiences."

Join the Museum's Facebook group and join the Teen Docent’s Facebook group, Through Our Eyes, to keep up to date on teen programs and events. Also, we would like to see the art you are making! Share your work with other teens on the Through Our Eyes Flickr page.

In Their Words

“

While training to be Teen Docents, we spent a lot of our time practicing different ways to give tours. The two techniques we learned are called Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) and Inquiry-Based tours. We took an acting workshop with Monica W. (Framingham High School graduate and current theater education major) to help us loosen up.

But we didn’t spend all of our time giving tours. We also visited artists’ studios and asked questions to better understand how different people create their own artwork.

Now that we’re done with training, we help with education programs, like Drop Into Art. One of the many benefits that we get as Teen Docents is being able to sit in and listen to exhibiting artists talk about their work. And when exhibitions end, we help de-install and put up new artworks.

Everything that we’ve done so far as Teen Docents has helped us grow.

”

How can I apply? Click here for more information and the 2011-2012 application form [PDF].

If you have specific questions or want to find out more about the program, contact Kendra Keefer-McGee at (508) 620-0050 x.23 or KKeefer-McGee @ danforthmuseum.org.

Thank You!

Past supporters of the Teen Docent program at the Danforth Museum of Art include Crossroads Community Foundation, The Sudbury Foundation and Bank of America.

The Danforth Museum of Art is located in Framingham, a town 30 minutes west of Boston. It is accessible by the Boston-Worcester commuter rail line and also offers free parking. See more at the directions page.

Danforth

Museum of Art

123 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702-8291 — 508.620.0050

Teen Docent Program at the Danforth Museum of Art

Thank You!