BECOME A DOCENT

Love people?
Love art?
Love meaningful conversation?

The CCMH needs YOU! Join the elite corps of CCMH volunteer docents.

If you love culture, heritage, art, and history, share your passion with visitors from all over the world. Become a Czech Center Museum Houston Docent! No previous experience is required, just a passion for history, art, and interest in meeting international visitors. For information on becoming a CCMH Docent, contact us at development@czechcenter.org

Our mission is to instill pride in one’s roots whatever they may be. It is our intent to teach people to be proud of their own culture while teaching them not just about the Czech lands but also Slavic culture. The Czech Center Museum Houston is an elegant, small museum focusing on the education of Central and Eastern European history, arts, and identity. Become a docent at our museum and once a week enjoy the feeling of a small baroque palace in Houston, Texas!

The dates of the docent volunteer training have been pushed back until further notice.

What does a docent do?

A docent is a volunteer gallery educator. At CCMH, our dynamic docent corps helps to create and facilitate conversation-based tours in the Museum’s galleries. Our docents provide an invaluable service to the community, especially the students who are often visiting the museum for the first time as well as senior groups.

Docents entering the training program in the summer of 2022 will commit to leading three tours per day. A background in art history is not required. Bilingual skills are helpful, but not required. We ask that all new docents commit to remaining in the program for a minimum of one year. 

Although CCMH docents come from all walks of life, they share a few common traits; each of our docent volunteers is curious, passionate about volunteering, flexible, open to feedback, and enjoys interacting with people from the Greater Houston Area, Texas, the USA, and beyond.

 

What qualities are you looking for?

 An ideal candidate for the docent program:

  • Demonstrates a strong interest in community service and volunteerism

  • Wants to act as a mediator between objects and the public

  • Is a flexible thinker, especially when confronted with difficult or sensitive topics

  • Demonstrates a positive attitude

  • Enjoys public speaking, great opportunity to improve skills

  • Interest/experience in education and history in a museum setting.

  • Available 1-2 days per week or less, flexible schedule, we can work around yours.

How can I apply to become a docent?

Anyone is welcome to apply. All applicants should be available during business hours, Monday–Friday, for training and leading tours. If you are interested in applying to the docent program, please send an email to development@czechcenter.org or fill out our application form.

After completing your application, you will have an interview with Museum staff. At the conclusion of the interviews, the new docent training class will be selected based on a demonstrated commitment to collaborative learning, an openness to multiple perspectives, and the ability to communicate with energy and diplomacy and demonstrate a growth mindset through constructive feedback.

Expectations for Docents

CCMH Docent Candidates are expected to:

  • Complete the training process

  • Commit to serving as a docent for 6 months

  • Comply with all policies and practices established by the Museum

Additionally, successful docent candidates:

  • Enjoy working with a team

  • Are flexible and dependable

  • Are able to solve problems efficiently

  • Are comfortable with public speaking

  • Are capable of physical activity, including standing for long periods of time

Schedule of training:

Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

  • Museum Walk-Through, including an introduction to the exhibit changes.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

  • Old European History from Wenceslaus until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

  • The Czech 20th century including WWI, the 1920s & 1930s, WWII, and Communism.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

  • What is the Modern Czech Republic? How to visit and enjoy the country as a tourist.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

  • Audiences and Tour procedures.

You may also be interested in the wide array of other volunteering opportunities at the CCMH. For more information about volunteering at the Museum, please contact development@czechcenter.org or 713 528 2060.