Sheldon seeks applicants to be volunteer docents

Docents at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Sheldon Museum of Art are more than just volunteers. They're a community of educators and art lovers who embrace one of the best ways to support the museum's mission: serving as ambassadors for the arts to museum visitors. The Sheldon is accepting applications for its docent program. Docents are volunteer staff who lead tours and teach visitors about the Sheldon, its special exhibitions, and its collection of more than 12,000 artworks.

Applicants do not have to have a background in art history, be an art teacher, or have any specialized knowledge about art. Education about visual art is part of the intensive training that is required for new volunteers. Applicants should, however, have an interest in art and the ability and desire to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds, including children.

Aug. 5 is the deadline to apply for the fall 2011 docent training course. The eight-session course begins Aug. 22, takes place at Sheldon, and continues from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Mondays and Thursdays through Sept. 19 (Labor Day excluded). Ongoing monthly training sessions are held throughout the school year.

The docent program requires a commitment of one morning per week throughout the school year. Primary beneficiaries of the docent-led tours are fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students from Lincoln Public Schools who visit Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Many additional tour groups are scheduled for afternoons and other days.

Sheldon houses one of the nation's premier university collections of American art. The museum, located at 12th and R streets on the UNL City Campus, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on the docent program, contact Sarah Feit at (402) 472-4524 or by email. Additional information and application materials are available on the Sheldon Web site, www.sheldonartmuseum.org/education/docent_info.html.

WRITER: Sarah Baker-Hansen, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Sheldon, (402) 472-1197, sbaker-hansen2@unl.edu