Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West launches Fall 2024 Docent training
Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is hosting a volunteer docent training program beginning Wednesday, Oct. 2.
The training will equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to help the museum tell the diverse and rich stories of the American West, Western Spirit representatives tell the Digital Free Press.
The 15-week program will run through Jan. 22, 2025, with sessions held every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (excluding Nov. 27 and the last two weeks of December).
Found part of the Old Town Scottsdale arts district, Western Spirit showcases rotating exhibitions featuring Western artworks, rare historical objects, and cultural treasures from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions.
Docents are vital in enhancing visitors’ experiences by leading tours, engaging with guests, and sharing insights into the West’s vibrant history. The newest exhibition opening on Oct. 8 is ‘People, Places, Predicaments: John Clymer’s West,’ which celebrates the life and work of renowned artist John Ford Clymer and honoring the legacy of art collector and Arizona philanthropist Eddie Basha.
Current exhibitions include Veryl Goodnight: Sled Dogs in America: Alaska & Beyond, Women of the Southwest: A Legacy of Painting, and Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, featuring 65 of the finest examples of Hopi pottery spanning six centuries.
Could you become a docent at Western Spirit?
Western Spirit encourages individuals passionate about western history, education, and art to apply. While prior volunteer or teaching experience is valued, a love for storytelling and engaging with diverse audiences is essential.
Docents must attend all training sessions and commit to a minimum of two, 3-hour shifts per month.
Additional volunteers are needed at Western Spirit. Apply today!
In addition to docents, the museum welcomes volunteers for various roles, including welcoming visitors, providing information, and assisting at special events. Whether supporting behind the scenes or directly engaging with guests, volunteers are crucial to the museum’s mission.
Applications are being accepted. To apply, visit scottsdalemuseumwest.org or contact Wade Weber, director of education at 480-530-3461 or email wweber@westernspirit.org.
Western Spirit features regularly changing exhibits of Western and Native American art and artifacts, entertaining events, and informative programs that bring the West’s heritage, culture, and community to life.
