This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Fralin Student Docents, one of the oldest volunteer university student docent programs in the country. Our Student Docents facilitate close-looking with original works of art, gain vital experience as museum educators, and serve the community by leading tours for thousands of area school children every year.
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 meetings vary semester to semester, but always include education specific to the art and exhibitions on view.
The Student Docents are an official UVA student organization operating under the supervision of The Fralin’s education department. Interested students are encouraged to apply by the spring of their second year in order to have at least one full year as an active docent after completing the training course. Rising fourth years will only be accepted to the program if they are planning to stay on for graduate study. Applications are reviewed by the docent coordinator and a committee of student docents.
Docent Training Course
The selections cycle for the Spring 2020 docent training class is now closed. The application for the Fall 2020 docent training class will be available in late February 2020. Students who wish to become volunteer docents can find more information by contacting the Docent Coordinator at 434-243-2050 or by email with questions.
