The Johnson Museum is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us better serve the public. Possibilities range from teaching school groups about different cultures, to helping out with family programs, to welcoming Cornell students to the Museum. No experience is necessary, just a love of art and a strong desire to learn more.

We hold a volunteer information session at the beginning of each semester. Please call 607 255-6464 if you have any questions.

Volunteers

Program volunteers assist educators at public programs. Duties include assisting with art activities and greeting the public. Classroom volunteers assist educators during workshops at the Museum, particularly with the OMNI program. On occasion, volunteers in high school and college help out with general office support in order to learn about career opportunities in art museums.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Download an application here (Adobe PDF) and contact Elizabeth Saggese for more information.

Docents

Docents are volunteers who guide visiting groups through the Museum’s collections and exhibitions, and engage them in looking closely and learning through interactive experiences. They lead tours for groups of all ages and backgrounds, from pre-K groups to seniors. Museum educators train the docents on how to teach art history in meaningful and effective ways. Educators and curators provide ongoing training in special exhibitions.

Docents are expected to give 35 hours per academic year, and commit to at least two years of service.

In return, docents receive the benefits of Membership, invitations to special events, discounts on workshops, connections to other museums, and the opportunity to audit art history courses at Cornell.

Interested in becoming a docent? Training sessions generally happen each fall. Download an application here (Adobe PDF) and contact Carol Hockett for more information.