Running a strong docent program is like conducting an orchestra. With the right practices, everyone harmonizes.

One of my favorite statements came from Geoffrey Cohrs, the Docent Coordinator for the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery:

I teach docents the skills they need to meaningfully engage the public in the issues of our time so the public may better understand their place in American society and what they can do to effect positive change.

Geoffrey inherited an effective docent program from his predecessor, Carol Wilson.  Now, he and his Assistant Docent Coordinator, Colleen Brown, have refined and expanded on those practices. The current program might stand as a model for other museums to follow.

Docent Coordinator Geoffrey Cohrs leads a new cohort through the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Here are seven guidelines that contribute to the program’s success.

  1. Stay selective and front-load expectations
  2. Train in theory and in practice
  3. Emphasize interpersonal skills
  4. Allow for collaborative decision-making
  5. Foster creativity
  6. Carefully match new docents and mentors
  7. Work as a team to enhance the program

Read the full article about creating a strong volunteer corp by Elisa Kosarin at volunteermatch.org.