I am an exhibition Designer/Preparator as well as an artist. I was
approached by our Docent trainer to talk to the new class about my
abstract paintings. I showed slides of my work as well as some well known
abstract painters. I think it was very helpful for them to hear about art
from the point of view of someone who actually makes it. It was
inspirational for me as well because I always get ideas from the
questions people ask me about my work. If there isn't a practicing artist
working at your museum that can articulate well, you have other
rescources --being a university museum like ours. What about art students
or faculty that may be willing to give a talk on their own work? Good
luck and would you please send me other interseting responses if they
aren't sent to the list? thanks.

Mark Erik Nielsen
University of Michigan Museum of Art

On Tue, 30 Apr 1996, John Nolan wrote:

> I am interested in finding out what sort of procedure of training
> other museums undergo to train their docents before actually working
> them into the schedule of giving tours.
>
> What sort of tests are employed? How and by whom are they critiqued?
> What aspects besides simple facts about the art history and facts are
> required to learn?
>
> Our museum is seeking to train our docents in the best way and would
> appreciate any advice or examples of others' training procedures.
> Any books to recommend on the subject would help as well.
>
> Gratefully,
>
> John M Nolan
> Assistant Director
> Bob Jones University Art Gallery and Museum
> Greenville, SC
> [log in to unmask]
>