Inyo County schools seek volunteers to be art docents
No experience necessary to help enrich students
The Inyo County Office of Education and the Inyo Council for the Arts are seeking volunteers for the Inyo County Art Docent Program, which is sponsored by the two agencies.
The Art Docent Program is a sequential, interactive kindergarten through 5th-grade visual art education program.
Developed by art educator and author Barbara Herberholz, this highinterest program introduces children to art and the area’s artistic heritage while addressing a significant part of the California Arts Standards.
• Docents make six portfolio presentations during the school year on a fall, winter and spring schedule, based on themes such as portraits, dancers, line, and color. Each presentation includes a gallery visit and a hands-on art activity and lasts about an hour.
What is an art docent?
• A docent is a volunteer who leads tours in an art museum. In the Art Docent Program , docents bring images of works of art to elementary classrooms, allowing students in the area to experience a “museum visit.”
• Art docents are family and community volunteers. No prior art background is needed to become a docent. Training is provided.
• Docenting requires a minimum time commitment of about one hour of classroom time per month.
• Every classroom visit has an accompanying manual with a chapter for each theme on the artists, artworks, and hands on art activities. It also includes games, interactive questions, vocabulary, presentation checklists and tips for success.
What is a gallery visit?
Each presentation begins with a “museum approach,” where students view several artworks based on a thematic grouping. An interactive, 15-minute discussion about the artworks and artists includes games and activities to help students:
• Observe, analyze, interpret and respond to works of art.
• Understand the role of art in a variety of past and present cultures.
• Respond to moods and feelings expressed by the artist.
• Connect what they learn in art to other subject areas.
What are the hands-on art activities?
Students make art using a wide variety of media and techniques: painting, collage, print making, cut paper, etc.
• Each activity follows the portfolio’s theme and lists materials needed, a motivation and instructions.
• Materials are provided by ICA.
To learn more about the Art Docent Program, contact Inyo Council for the Arts at (760) 873-8014 or go to www.inyo.org/ artdocentprogram.