What is a docent?
A docent is part tour guide/part teacher who leads groups of all ages and types on adventures through the Museum, sharing insight and encouraging questions along the way. Someone whose passion for the material shines through and sparks the interest of others.
Who can become a docent?
We are seeking people with love and enthusiasm for art and local history who enjoy sharing knowledge with others. Perfect for college students, retirees, performers, and others available during the day. No previous art history knowledge or teaching experience necessary. The museum provides an extensive training course for docents in the art and history collections and in special exhibitions.
What types of tours are available?
The Mattatuck offers:
- School tours: By far the most common, as Mattatuck docents serve as tour guides to more than 5,000 K-12 students annually (about 4,000 Waterbury Public School 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students, and 1,000 from surrounding towns and private schools)
- Adult and Senior tours
- Virtual Tours
- Access tours
- Memories at the Matt
- Matt on The Go: Docents may give off-site presentations at schools, community groups and senior centers in the region
What benefits do docents enjoy?
Docents get to learn about exhibitions ahead of the public and work closely with museum staff to hone presentation skills. Docents receive an individual membership to the Mattatuck Museum and are invited on special docent trips, events, lectures, and to the annual staff party.
What Is the commitment for docents?
Docents must be able to attend annual training sessions on the museum’s collection, new exhibitions, updated curriculum and teaching strategies.
Mattatuck docents commit to attend a monthly meeting. Docents may choose to specialize in specific types of tours, both by topic and audience.
Interested?
Are you a lifelong learner looking for your next volunteer opportunity?
Contact Lillian Hayward, Education and Tour Coordinator, 203-753-0381 x118
Volunteer Docent Open House
August 19 @ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Mattatuck Museum docents are volunteers trained to passionately present real stories of art and history to the public. During the school year, they spend weekday mornings guiding elementary students through the museum and sharing their excitement about either art or local history.
This event is a chance for people interested in volunteering to go on a tour of the museum, hear about the docent program, grab some food, and socialize with the museum’s terrific team of volunteer docents.