SeMA - Nurture Docents

Support & Nurture
Nurture Docents

We operate various projects to support and nurture art and culture.

The Seoul Museum of Art has conducted its Docent Training Program since 2003 to promote museums and popularize exhibitions. Targeting non-professional citizens, SeMA offers programs to train citizens to become docents and supports docents selected from the students who have completed the training course to be a museum docent. Through systematized and professional lectures, students in the training program learn to be docents and have an opportunity to volunteer at the museum while being immersed in culture and art.

* The Seosomun Main Branch and Buk-Seoul Museum of Art independently operate docent training programs. Applicants who wish to take part in the docent program can look up the program at the desired museum.

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Introduction
Seoul Museum of Art Docent Training Program
SeMA Buk-Seoul Museum of Art Docent Training Program

A “docent” is “a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis.” After docent-guided tours at museums started in the mid-19th century in the United Kingdom, the system was introduced in America, first at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1907, and it then spread to the rest of the US. In Korea, the docent-guided system was introduced during the Gwangju Biennale in 1995. Since 2003, the Seoul Museum of Art has operated its Docent Training Program to select docents; since then, more than 150 docents have been active at the museum.

The Seoul Museum of Art (Seosomun Main Branch and Buk-Seoul Museum of Art) offers programs for non-professional citizens to become docents. Anyone who is interested in becoming a docent is welcome to apply.

1. Docent Training Program

- Recruitment Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target: Any adult 20 years of age or older

- Application Method: In an odd-numbered year, apply for the Docent Training Program by clicking Related Exhibitions & Programs (Application cannot be submitted by phone or in person)

- Content of Training: Art history, art criticism, understanding of exhibitions, speech training, etc.

- Certification Criteria: Students who have taken part in more than 80% of the program

2. Preliminary Written Test for Docent Qualification

- Test Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target Candidate: Students who completed the Docent Training Program in that year

- Evaluation: Written test

3. Secondary Written Test for Docent Qualification

- Test Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target Candidate: Students who passed the preliminary written test

- Evaluation: Demonstrate being a docent by describing an artwork

4. Announcement of Selected Docents

- Announcement Date: Around December in an odd-numbered year

- No. of Selected Docents: 10 ~ 15 persons

* After an orientation in the following January, selected docents begin to give tours.

5. Rules & Procedures

The themes and contents of the training program may vary depending on the museum and the instructor.
The application must be submitted by the applicant himself or herself.
Since 2018, the selection has taken place every other year.
The purpose of this program is training docents to work at the Seoul Museum of Art. Auditing is not permitted.

☞For inquires, contact Curator Yoo Su-gyeong at +82-2-2124-8928.

1. Docent Training Program

Recruitment Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target: Any adult 20 years of age or older

- Application Method: In an odd-numbered year, apply for the Docent Training Program by clicking Related Exhibitions & Programs. (Application cannot be submitted by phone or in person.)

- Selection Method: Computer drawing

- Content of Training: Understanding volunteer work, art history, understanding of exhibitions, speech training, etc. (Curriculum is updated annually)

- Certification Criteria: Students who attended more than nine sessions

2. Preliminary Written Test for Docent Qualification

- Test Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target Candidate: Students who completed the Docent Training Program in that year

- Evaluation: Evaluate tasks

3. Secondary Written Test for Docent Qualification

- Test Time: Second half of the year in an odd-numbered year

- Target Candidate: Students who passed the preliminary written test

- Evaluation: Demonstrate being a docent by describing an artwork

4. Announcement of Selected Docents

- Announcement Date: Around December in an odd-numbered year

- No. of Selected Docents: 10 ~ 15 persons (May vary)

* After an orientation in the following January, selected docents begin to give tours.

5. Rules & Procedures

The themes and contents of the training program may vary depending on the museum and the instructor.
The application must be submitted by the applicant himself or herself.
The purpose of this program is training docents to work at the Seoul Museum of Art. Auditing is not permitted.

☞For inquires, contact Curator Yoo Han-na at +82-2-2124-5273.