What does an Art Vista Docent actually do?
Being an Art Vistas docent is easier than you might think! Docents give six 20-minute presentations throughout the year in their child’s class, showing art prints, followed by a demonstration and hands-on project where the children get a chance to apply some of the concepts that they have learned, 6 times a year. Docents do not need any experience or background in teaching or art education because we provide all the trainings with detailed lesson plans and all materials are prepared for you!
Below is an overview of what you'll do and the head docents at each school will guide and help you every step of the way!
Below is an overview of what you'll do and the head docents at each school will guide and help you every step of the way!
- Sign-up as a docent for Art Vistas at Back to School Night.
- If you are new docent, attend one general training session. Art Vistas provides a general training to equip you with the art terminology and concepts that we cover in the Art Vistas program. The training is less than 2 hours.
- Attend two grade-specific training sessions: The grade-specific training is offered twice a year and less than 2 hours long. The training will prepare you for your classroom presentation of prints and show you how to do each project step-by-step. You will also get the curriculum sheet for every set.
- Schedule your sets: Talk to the teacher and the other docents in your class to pick convenient dates for each set (lesson and project). Aim for about 1.5 hours for each set. Be sure to reserve the dates and time for each set in the calendar system used at your school.
- Classroom session: On the day of the set, pick up the prints and a materials bin from the designated area. All the materials will be prepared for you. Go to the classroom to present the prints and hands-on project just as you've learned in the training! Clean up and bring the prints and materials back to the designated area.
- Prepare for the Art Show: Docents from each class are responsible for mounting, labeling and hanging the art for your class.