Volunteering at OJAC

 

docent tripDocents on a trip to South Texas © 2009

 

The Old Jail Art Center welcomes volunteers-women and men-to join its Docent Program, currently some 80-strong. The Docents have given indispensable support to the museum since it opened in 1980. They staff the reception desk on weekends, provide food and decorations for OJAC functions, assist with bulk mailings and education programs, plan and coordinate Docent trips, and help recruit new volunteers.

 

Each Docent is expected to do the following:
• Be a member of the museum.  (Dues begin at $12.50)
• Pay annual Docent dues.  ($10-helps fund trips)
• Attend a monthly meeting.
• Work one weekend shift at least once per quarter.
• Work a shift during Fandangle weeks (last two weeks in June)
• Be a member of one of the Docent Committees (Decorations, Education, Food, Mailout, Orientation, or Travel).
• Contribute food if asked for a museum event

The rewards are many:
• Museum membership entitles you to 10% discount in the Gift Shop and invitations to free buffet dinners for exhibition openings.

festival Volunteers helping with a family festival!


• Monthly Docent meetings include programs on a variety of art-related topics.
• Docents receive training on the museum's permanent collection, operations, and special exhibitions. (No tests!)
• Meet and visit with the public.  (Our visitors in 2002 came from all 50 states and 40 foreign countries.)
• Get free or subsidized admission to many OJAC special events.
• Be able to join Docent trips at a subsidized price.  (Day trips and 2-3 day trips.)
• Make new friends among the friendly Docent corps.

For more information, contact Kathryn Mitchell, Education Director, at 325/762-2269 or by e-mail at education@theoldjailartcenter.org.  You can also read more about being a docent in Larry Bell's well written "amblin' through albany" article below.

Docents are welcome to join at any time.  Come to one of our monthly meetings to see what it is all about.  Men are encouraged to join the Docent Program, too!

To see the docents in action, check out some pictures on The Old Jail Art Center