Docents

The next docent training class will be offered in 2012, schedule TBA.

Daily Visitor Service Assistants

Benefits: work with professional museum staff, expert art educators, and other volunteers to facilitate informal learning, gain visitor services experience in a dynamic environment, become familiar with contemporary art and artists, be a part of art museum team. After 6 months of satisfactory performance, receive eligibility for discount at Museum store and Café Tempo.

Position Description: Work 3-6 hours/week at the Information Desk, shifts scheduled in advance, report to Museum staff.

Skills or training: customer service, teaching, or hospitality experience preferred. Alert and friendly personality, strong communications skills required. Complete JCCC application and Nerman Museum application, reference called, interview, sign and return Code of Conduct, attend orientation sessions and occasional training sessions.

Tasks: Wear name tag and adhere to dress code.

• Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled shift start and plan to stay up to 15 minutes past scheduled shift as needed. Sign in to log hours.
• Greet every person with a smile and “hello.” Look up to initiate eye contact with all passersby.
• Check weekly schedule of museum programs and be aware of guided and self-guided tour groups. For any unscheduled groups who walk-in, record name and number of visitors on tour log for our records.
• Answer questions about exhibitions and programs, give directions, and distribute educational materials and information brochures as needed.
• Provide visitors with pencils and clipboards to borrow while in galleries.
• Show visitors to coat storage closets with lockers for backpacks and other items which may not be brought into galleries.
• Conduct check-in for students enrolled in Art Museum Youth classes.
• Obtain temporary substitute (security monitor) before leaving post for breaks.
• Notify staff in advance for all absences.
• Attend annual individual performance review and participate in ongoing peer evaluation.
• Attend exhibition training sessions with fellow volunteers.

Children’s Class Assistants

Benefits: work with expert art educators, gain child-care and teaching experience in a dynamic environment, learn about contemporary art and artists in the permanent collection and exhibitions, learn about art museum education as a profession.

Position Description: assist teachers with preparation and implementation of Contemporary Creations and Early Explorations classes, including supervising students during the warm-up project, the gallery component, the studio component, discussion, and clean up. Report to the teacher and the Curator of Education. Work 3-6 hours per week. Saturday, 9:30am-12:30, 1:30pm-4:30 shift times available throughout the academic year, and weekday shifts are available in the summer.

Skills and Training: recent studio art coursework or child care experience required. Fill out JCCC Volunteer Application and Nerman Museum Volunteer Application, reference called, interview. Review general information packet. Volunteers receive a copy of the lesson plan prior to class date.

Tasks: Wear Nerman Museum apron and name tag while on duty.

• Arrive 30minutes before class begins. Meet the teacher in the classroom.
• Welcome students as they arrive. Supervise the warm-up project for the early arrivals. Once all students arrive, the teacher will lead introductions. The Visitor Services Assistant from the information desk will bring the check-in/check-out sheet (clipboard will also have emergency contact information for each student).
• While the teacher conducts the tour, assist by keeping the students together and reinforcing the teacher’s authority, reminding students of the museum rules if they forget.
• After the tour, the teacher will demonstrate the studio project. Gently remind students to pay attention as needed.
• Following the teacher’s instruction, pass out materials, supervise, and assist students as needed.
• Supervise students as they clean-up.
• Supervise children during the discussion component and supervise them until their parents arrive to pick them up. Check students out as they leave w/ parent.
• Distribute parent letters and make sure students leave with all belongings and projects.
• Help the teacher finish clean-up and prepare materials for the next class.