The Fralin Student Docents at the University of Virginia

Club Description

The Fralin Student Docents at the University of Virginia are one of the oldest volunteer university student docent programs in the country. Student Docents facilitate close-looking with original works of art at the Fralin Museum of Art, gain vital experience as museum educators, and serve the community by leading tours for thousands of area school children every year. The Fralin Student Docents are dedicated to furthering the educational and cultural development of its members and the community, as well as increasing the visibility and recognition of the Fralin Museum of Art.New docents participate in a semester-long training course in dialogic teaching, public speaking, and education theory, and are given ample opportunity to practice these skills. Some knowledge of basic art history is helpful but not required. After the training semester, student docents attend weekly education meetings Fridays from 1-2pm. Docent education meeting topics vary semester to semester, but always include education specific to the art and exhibitions on view.