The Docent Program

Thank you for your interest in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Docent Council. The training class for fall 2024 is full. We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 program. To participate, please complete our 2024 docent application. For questions, please email us at education@sbma.net.

LEARN. SHARE. CONTRIBUTE. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Become a Docent at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Do you love art?

Would you like to share that passion with others?

Who are Docents?

A docent at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is a volunteer who serves the community as an art educator for adults and students visiting the Museum.

What are the Qualifications?

To become a Docent, the most important skill necessary is having a genuine interest in art, and the willingness to expand your knowledge of art.

A trainee will be taught how to share this knowledge with adults and students visiting the Museum. If you like art and want to learn how to be a Docent, please join the Docent Training Course.

The SBMA Docent Training Course

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Docent Program is known for the quality of its training program as well as for the excellence, enthusiasm, and dedication of its membership.

Within the training course, you will be taught everything you will need to know to begin touring student and adult visitors in the galleries. We are a caring and sharing organization that feels deeply committed to the success of every new Docent class. Classes meet one day weekly on Wednesdays from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm and take place from September to May.

Benefits of Becoming a Docent

The informative exchange between Docents and visitors is a transformative experience that is not to be missed. Docents not only elevate their own lives by receiving a thorough art education, but they also get to expand their perception and knowledge of art by sharing this wisdom with visitors.

Other benefits of being a Docent include attending bimonthly lectures by Museum curators and noted visiting scholars, participating in off-site activities such as visits to other museums, joining in social events focused on Docent life, and thriving in the company of like-minded volunteers.

How do I become a Docent?

An informational meeting will be held in August 2025 for next year's program.

We thank you again for your interest and hope to see you soon!