Student Docents

The Fralin Student Docents

This year we celebrate the 30^th 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 

Applications are now closed for the Spring 2019 Docent Training Course. Applications for the Fall 2019 training course will be available in February. 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.

Continuing education for student docents

After their initial training period, student docents attend weekly education meetings that include workshops and lectures by education staff, curators, and guest speakers on special exhibitions and the permanent collection. As a group, docents take annual field trips to other museums.

Community Docent Program

Volunteer docents at The Fralin Museum of Art lead engaging and interactive tours for school groups and community organizations from across the central Virginia region. They also assist with the Museum's special programs, including the annual Writer's Eye competition.

Community members who are accepted into the program are required to complete the Museum's 11-week Docent Training Course. Participants in the course develop observational skills and knowledge of the elements of art through investigation of the Museum's collections and current exhibitions, and learn public speaking skills and techniques for facilitating tours. New docents complete a qualifying tour at the end of the course and commit to leading tours at The Fralin for at least two years following its completion.

The Museum accepts applications on a rolling basis from community members who wish to become docents, and interviews are conducted prior to the beginning of each Docent Training Course. For information about future docent training opportunities, contact the Docent Coordinator at 434-243-2050 or email.

Continuing education for community docents

After their initial training period, docents receive ongoing education from education staff, curators, and guest speakers on special exhibitions and the permanent collection. As a group, docents occasionally take field trips to other museums. Some docents also attend regional and national docent education conferences.

In fall 2017, Community Docent Education meetings will be held on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 am on:

Meeting Dates

January 4, 18
February 1, 15
March 15, 22, 29
April 5, 19

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The Fralin Student Docents

Community Docent Program

Meeting Dates