Docents at the Portland Museum of Art play a vital role in introducing the museum and its collection to a wide variety of audiences through individualized, guided gallery experiences.

While docents come from diverse backgrounds, they all share a common interest in teaching, working with visitors and art. Using interactive teaching methods, docents encourage close looking, facilitate discussion in the galleries, and help visitors make personally meaningful connections with the collection and special exhibitions. By supporting the programs and goals of the Learning and Interpretation department, docents serve as ambassadors for the museum and reinforce the museum's mission as a vital cultural center.

Docents assist in the process of helping each individual make meaningful connections by providing visitors with an opportunity to explore individual works of art in the collection through careful looking and group discussion. We train docents in a variety of techniques including Visual Thinking Strategies. Our goal is to encourage visitors to look at works of art in the collection through careful looking and group discussion. Ultimately, the docent will guide visitors to develop their own abilities to appreciate art, and to apply these looking and questioning strategies on their own. By using open-ended inquiry (versus lecturing) and layering in information throughout a tour, docents build opportunities for visitors to discuss and deeply engage with works of art. 

The museum is not currently recruiting for new docents. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please send us an email.