Our docents are an important part of the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah team and they are exposed to a unique cultural experience through our events and workshops.
Who is a docent? A docent is a volunteer who teaches visitors about art in the museum’s galleries. Docents create meaningful experiences with museum visitors as they explore the world through works of art. They inspire and nurture discovery by encouraging visitors to look more deeply into artworks, and they help to enrich the lives of others by connecting people to art and the museum.
If you are interested in learning more about the docent programme, please contact us.
Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah Begins Accepting Applications for the Junior Docents Programme
The Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah (DAI) is now accepting applications for the volunteer Junior Docent programme. Starting in September 2012, 20 hand selected students between the ages of 13 and 16 will begin a two-year Junior Docent programme, where they will learn about all aspects of museum administration, including conservation, acquisitions, collection management, museum management and communications, exhibition planning and execution, and museum-based education.
“Docents are already an important part of the Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah,” said DAI director Abdulkareen al Ghadban. “These highly trained and enthusiastic volunteer ambassadors are earning rave reviews from our visitors for their informative and inviting tours of Amricani exhibitions. I expect that the Junior Docents will be just as successful and, ultimately, contribute even more.”
The purpose of the DAI Junior Docent programme is to introduce students to professional opportunities in the museum world. Participants will study art history and observe/learn about six different museum-oriented professional paths. Each participant will then select two paths and do a six month “residency” in each. At the conclusion of the programme, the students will work together to create, curate, execute and manage every aspect of an exhibition.
“What we hope to get from this, in addition to more wonderful docents, are the next generation of museum specialists. We want the kid who’s thinking about studying chemistry at university to think about being a museum conservationist. We want the one considering graphic design to look at museum applications for those talents,” said al Ghadban. “In short, we want to grow our own replacements . . . that’s what I meant when I said we hope they’ll contribute even more.”
In order to be considered for a Junior Docent position, candidates must commit to two three-hours session every month from September 2012 – June 2014 (with short summer breaks built in). They must complete the application (available from info@darmuseum.org.kw) and have a letter of reference from a teacher. Applications are due at the DAI office in the Amricani Cultural Centre no later than 4 PM on 27 May 2012. The selection committee will notify all candidates of their decision by 15 June 2012.
