Volunteers, Interns & Docents

Napa Valley Museum seeks Volunteers, Docents and Accepts Select Interns
at its Yountville location and The MAC opening late 2024!

Napa Valley Museum Yountville
Napa Valley Museum Yountville (NVMY) is Looking for Volunteers & Docents, and has select Internship Opportunities*
The NVMY is always looking for volunteers to help support its events, to work at the front desk and in the museum store, and occasionally to serve as docents for its exhibitions. The NVMY is located at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville. Contact Joel Kurtz, Education Director: joel@napavalleymuseum.org

Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture (The MAC)
The Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture (The MAC), our new flagship location opening in Late 2024, is looking for volunteers and docents*
The MAC will be located at 607 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, right next door to Press restaurant. 

The MAC’s opening exhibition will be “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life, a look into the extraordinary life of iconic chef and broadcasting pioneer Julia Child.

• Volunteers at The MAC:
  For this exhibition and future exhibitions, we are looking for volunteer assistance with:
  • Reception desk – providing information to visitors, bag check, etc.
  • Answering questions and keeping things tidy in The MAC’s gift shop.
  • Gallery attendant, providing assistance if needed for the interactive exhibits, and monitoring the gallery.
• Docents at The MAC
  We are also looking for docents!   What makes a good Docent?

Qualities that make for a good Docent are enthusiasm, patience, flexibility, and the ability to take a visitor-centered approach to touring. Successful Docents are interpersonal, skilled at interacting with visitors of all ages and interested in working as a member of a team. Docents are committed to learning new ways of engaging visitors and are willing to make the necessary time commitments to both training and touring.

What background is required?

Prior knowledge of art is not necessary; only an open mind, flexibility, interest, enthusiasm and time are required. Museum docents receive great self-satisfaction and enlightenment through this program since they are most often the first contact many children and adults have with art, culture, and the Museum.

Candidates should possess:

• Interest in art, history, and culture.
• Good public speaking skills.
• Enthusiasm for learning and sharing knowledge.
• An ability to interpret and encourage others to interpret the stories behind the exhibits.
• Ability to work well with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Be at least a Age18
• Agree to the Museum’s non-smoking and other policies

Time What is the commitment?

In general, docents will meet several times a week for two to three hours each day, prior to the opening of an exhibit. During the first several months of an exhibit, we will then meet once a week or as necessary to share strategies that work well and others that may need tweaking. 

All docents are expected to participate in as many docent meetings, workshops, talks, and lectures as possible. Independent study is also strongly encouraged to be immersed in the educational points of the exhibit. In addition to the regular meetings, docents may need to observe tours and/or spend time in the galleries reviewing the exhibit.

What does training involve?

Participants will attend two training sessions per week to become familiar with the exhibits and learn effective strategies for engaging with visitors, practice active listening techniques, and methods for eliciting opinions from all viewers. New docent training covers travelling exhibitions.

What are the benefits?

• Complimentary individual membership each year you volunteer/intern
• Annual recognition event
• Special private briefings with artists and/or curators
• Exclusive Volunteer/Intern only events and opportunities
• Discount tickets to events and special programs

If you are interested in any of these volunteer or docent positions, please email or call our Education Coordinator, Joel Kurtz at joel@napavalleymuseum.org or 707-944-0500 extension 103

Napa Valley Museum
PO Box 3567
Yountville, CA 94599
707.944.0500