We (curators and collection managers) usually do the tours ourselves.
However, these are 15-30 minutes in the department, not 5 minutes.  We have
had members' nights (3-4 hours) and open houses (day- or weekend-long) where
behind-the-scenes areas are opened and extra displays are out.  We also
provide 1-hour lecture/tours for classes (high school and college).  All of
these are done with curators and collection managers.

These events are scheduled either through our Division of Education or
through the Special Events department.

Robin

Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
Collection Manager, Section of Birds          ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Dawn Scher Thomae [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

Our museum is offering an increasing number of behind-the-scenes tours
as prizes at auctions, for higher-level donors, new employee
orientation, to cater to future facility rental clients, visiting
dignitaries, etc.  Most of these tours last from one to two hours.
There are currently two curators being asked to do these tours quite
regularly.  I would like to propose to administration that a small group
of long-term volunteers, maybe five, be trained to lead these tours to
each department and then the staff in that department would give a five
or ten minute introduction to that area. All requests would be filtered
through the volunteer office and scheduled just like a docent-led tour
in the exhibit halls.  (I know there are a few volunteers who would love
the opportunity to lead special tours to the upper floors).

What I would like to ask is this: Who does them in your
museum/institution and how is it coordinated?  Any additional comments
or suggestions on this topic appreciated.

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