Are you passionate about art? Do you want to serve your community? Are you interested in learning from others and hearing and engaging with different perspectives? If you answered yes to these questions, we hope that you’ll consider volunteering your time as a docent at the Seattle Art Museum. Docents are in the galleries, leading tours, engaging with visitors, and helping SAM in our mission to connect art to life!
SAM is currently recruiting docents for school tours to interact with the more than 20,000 school-age children visiting the museum each year. School tours at SAM are interactive, discussion-based experiences that emphasize students’ interests and abilities. Docents work together and with staff to develop and practice effective teaching strategies, including discussion, storytelling, and sketching. You don’t need to be an art historian or an experienced teacher to apply—SAM will provide regular training, lectures, and resources so that your tours are engaging for all students, kindergarten through high school.
Equity and access are fundamental values of SAM. Docents are a huge part of this initiative and should approach touring in a way that is welcoming, enthusiastic, and open to a broad range of visitors. In addition to studying works of art from SAM’s collection and special exhibitions, docents build public speaking skills, participate in racial equity training, and are active members of a learning community.
