National Docents Symposium Council

Interchange

New Articles in the Series (November 2018)

Washington Monument with NMAAHC CoronaInclusion and Diversity - Creating space for multiple and diverse voices

Cultural institutions across North America are working to diversify their audiences and become more inclusive and welcoming places for everyone. The role of the docent or guide is becoming more dynamic. We hope that these articles will provide you with ideas and examples on the training, touring and engagement skills required in this new vision of a cultural place.

New Articles about Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives (November 2018):

American History through the African American Lens: Docent Janice Ferebee introduces us to the newest Smithsonian museum and the experience of docenting there. Read it here.

Inclusion in the Galleries: A Conversation on Internal Change: Amelia Wiggins, Manager of Gallery Learning & Interpretation at the Delaware Art Museum, reports on a conversation with Gilda Teixido Kelsey, a member of the Delaware Art Museum’s 2017 museum guide class, about her experience with the museum’s initiative to put inclusion at the forefront of the vision for their institution and the continuing education program for guides. Read it here.

Find all articles on inclusion and diversity here

Find online resources on inclusion and diversity here

We welcome your docent ideas and experiences. Share them by:

-- submitting an article to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

-- joining the National Docents Forum Facebook group, an interactive forum for docents and guides.

Mina Shea, President, National Docent Symposium Council

More Docent News/Sharing Ideas and Experience

The Docent Handbook 2 - A Must Buy, See Why!

The revised edition of our popular docent handbook - The Docent Handbook 2 - is now available for purchase. This valuable resource for docents, guides and interpreters from museums and cultural institutions of all types in the US and Canada is a stimulating and informative "nuts and bolts" manual.

“this is not an academic treatise but rather a wealth of clearly-presented suggestions any docent can easily incorporate into their own practice".- Mica Meadow, Docent,San Antonio Museum of Art

Read more of Mica's remarks and find other customer reviews of The Docent Handbook 2 here.

For more information and ordering instructions, click this LINK

Insight from the Council

NDSC Education Grants for the National Docent Symposium 2019 in Washington DC

Linda Oidtmann, Docent, Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, NH; New England Director, NDSC, and Chair NDSC Education Grants (November 2018)

The Directors of the National Docent Symposium Council (NDSC) not only are active docents in their respective cultural institutions but they are frequent and ongoing participants in the symposia over many years. They offer their insight from their experiences at the symposia and how the NDSC offers cultural institutions throughout the United States and Canada an excellent forum for the exchange of new ideas and best practices.

What are the NDSC Education Grants? Read more from NDSC Education Grants Chair Linda Oidtmann.

Traveling Docents

New Contributions (November 2018)

Many docents are adventurous travelers. We continue a series on docent travels to unique places and interesting museums with a visit to Nigeria, which you can find here.

More New Travel Stories from Docents: A Month in the Land of Enchantment and Venice Biennale 2019