Wits Art Museum is home to an extraordinary collection of 15 000 artworks. It includes historical, modern and contemporary African artworks and the Jack Ginsberg Centre for the Book Arts. WAM is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday, 10h00 – 16h00 and there is no entrance fee. The museum hosts 10-12 temporary exhibitions each year. An interactive tours programme accompanies each exhibition. The purpose is to encourage audiences of all ages to make their own connections and meanings, express their multiple views and actively participate in the dialogue that surrounds the Arts of Africa.

WAM is growing its capacity to deliver educational tours for school and public groups through a docent (voluntary museum guide) training programme. Docents enhance visitors’ experiences and can catalyse diverse and interactive kinds of learning in a museum. They engage audiences in creative ways to stimulate curiosity, imagination and participation so that museum visitors leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artworks and exhibitions.

Prospective docents will attend a 6-week introductory course consisting of:

• Six lectures, 18h00 to 19h30 on Wednesday evenings. African art historians will introduce and explore the Wits Art Museum collection. Participants will gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary to talk about the historical, traditional, modern, and contemporary African art.
• Six workshops, 10h00 to 12h00 on Saturday mornings. Each workshop will introduce and develop the skills required for conducting tours at WAM. Through interactive activities, docents will learn how to involve visitors with the artwork.
• By the end of the course, docents will be able to design and deliver tours for school and public groups using the permanent collection.
• High school graduates, university students, artists and art enthusiasts who are interested in Africa, the visual arts, enjoy engaging with people of all ages, are good communicators, are motivated and have free time to volunteer are encouraged to apply. The course offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with people who share an interest in art and possible entry into a stimulating volunteering experience.
• The cost for the course is R700. Upon completion, you will receive a free WAM art-related publications to the value of R1 000 and be eligible to apply to be a WAM docent. A generous number of fee waivers is available on request.

The course is limited to a maximum of 25 participants. On completion of the course, participants can apply to join the docent group.
For queries, call Education Curator Leigh Leyde on 011 717 1378 or email info.wam@wits.ac.za.