Do you have a passion for art and for sharing that passion with others? If so, you might consider becoming a volunteer docent at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

The word "docent" is derived from the Latin word "docere" meaning "to teach". Docents are specially educated volunteers who facilitate tour experiences for visiting groups of all ages. The docent helps to bring the AGH's Permanent Collection and visiting exhibitions to life, by creating meaningful and lasting impressions for visitors. Each year the gallery welcomes approximately 7000 school students for discovery tours, and over 150 adult touring groups through a variety of tours, including Sunday Tour Days and Art@Lunch.

Following an eight-session training course, which includes shadowing experienced docents, new docents become actively involved in delivering exhibition tours to school groups ranging from kindergarten to the post-graduate level, as well as to various adult groups. Docents also attend regular meetings where they review and discuss exhibition information, artists and their works, touring techniques, the arts curriculum, art research, and art history. As well, the AGH curators and other guest speakers engage the group in learning about current exhibitions and about art in general.

Docents engage in personal research and tour development strategies, work collaboratively with their peers, and are computer-literate, which includes access to the Internet and e-mail.

For a detailed job-description, please return to the Volunteer Page and click on Volunteer Committee Operating Manual.

If you are interested in applying for a volunteer position at the AGH, please return to the Volunteer Page and follow the instructions for Volunteer Application.

Please note that to be a volunteer at the AGH, you are required to become a member. For more information about membership, click here.