Docents
Docent Gianie Kim leads a tour in Grant Wood: American Gothic and Other Fables, 2018. Photograph by Filip Wolak
About
If you have ever listened to a free public tour at the Whitney Museum, you already have an idea of what it means to be a Whitney docent. Docents welcome and engage visitors by giving extended introductory tours of current exhibitions and providing interpretive insights and historical context to the works of art on view.
Whitney docents volunteer their time. They come from a range of backgrounds, from recent college graduates to working professionals, retirees, artists, and stay-at-home parents, and range in age from their twenties to their eighties. We value people who bring diverse perspectives, including Latinx and American Indigenous backgrounds. We are especially looking for candidates who can offer tours in both Spanish and English. All docents participate in a rigorous training program covering modern American art history and theory, object research, analysis, and presentation tips and methods. Ongoing enrichment, professional development, and community-building are integral parts of the Docent Program.
The program is currently closed to new applicants. If you are interested in being considered for a future training class, an e-mail to DocentProgram@whitney.org will automatically keep your contact information on file, and you will be contacted when a new class is being formed. Typically this is every 4-6 years.