During the pandemic we saw a significant rise in the diversity of candidates for our volunteer docent program. Luckily, during the pandemic we have also been focused on building more accessible and relevant docent training, for example, offering each session multiple times in a week including a weekend day, shortening training, and otherwise trying to reduce barriers to participation like reducing overall docent commitment.
Social media is a great way to reach a younger audience, but make sure that what you have to offer is relevant to that audience. What we've learned is that it isn't enough to simply notify more people, it's critical to make changes to your training that increase the accessibility of the opportunity. I've also seen success over the years reaching out to local university or college department admins with flyers letting them know about opportunities, as well as working with marketing at my institution to have a note included in our membership newsletter that a docent training class is upcoming.
-Brandi
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Brandi Shawn-Chaparro
Associate Director, Volunteer & Community Engagement
Huntington Library, Art Museum, & Botanical Gardens
San Marino CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-09-2022 08:25 AM
From: Michelle Keib
Subject: Volunteer Recruitment
Great topic! I am eager to hear what others have to share. At the GR Barnes Foundation we are working on the same endeavor.
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Michelle Keib
Business Development Manager
Gaylord Archival
Syracuse NY
michelle.keib@gaylord.com
Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2022 01:44 PM
From: Victoria Waldron
Subject: Volunteer Recruitment
Hello Fellow Museum Professionals,
I was curious about how you are recruiting volunteers for your docent/tour guide program in a post-COVID museum world. How do you get the word out that you are recruiting? Has anyone seen a decrease in the number of people applying?
Thank you in advance,
Tori
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Victoria Waldron
Manager of Digital and Gallery Learning
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Oklahoma City OK
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