ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE,

One Tour At A Time

Erin Griswold, Docent Program Coordinator

More than 100,000 Museum visitors participated in a Docent-led tour last fiscal year. On any given day this important group of volunteer life-long learners gives general and private tours of the Museum of Art, Ca’ d’Zan mansion, the Bayfront Gardens, and Circus Museum. The Ringling utilizes more than 130 highly trained Docents. Their efforts help enhance the quality of the Museum experience for visitors, as well as their appreciation of the collection.

Docents cover highlights of the permanent collections and special exhibitions. They also provide private group tours for adults, targeted tours for school children, and specialty tours for visitors with mobility, vision and hearing challenges. To fully prepare for the assignment of helping audiences of all ages connect with the collections and The Ringling Legacy, Docents pursue an intensive course of study and continuing education.

The Education Department delivers a thorough training program for Docents with support from Museum Curators and other guest presenters. The content focuses on the Museum’s permanent collections and special exhibitions, visitor engagement skills, accessibility techniques, learning theory, Museum education best practices, customer service, and scholastic program engagement.

Understanding the amount of time and energy these volunteers dedicate gives one a greater appreciation for their tremendous efforts. Flexibility and a visitor-centric approach and solid public speaking skills are a must, and our volunteers and our Docents deliver the highest quality of each.

Creating A Legacy Supporting Our Docents

Immediately upon retiring to Sarasota in September of 2002, Joan and Jose’ Uranga began their training as Docents for the Museum of Art, Ca’ d’Zan, and the Circus Museum. They felt the legacy of John and Mable Ringling warranted their time as volunteers and that the Museum was vital to the culture of Sarasota. As the two became involved the Docent program, Jose’ became qualified as a School Tour Docent and Joan began to serve on the Ringling Board of Directors as the delegate from the Docent Advisory Council. The couple has found a passion and a local family in the docent corps over the past 12 years and as volunteers, members, and leaders. This year, as a commitment to that family, Joan and Jose’ established a fund to support Docent training, stating, “…this endowed fund supports docent training and enrichment as we believe the Docent corps at The Ringling serves a crucial role in enhancing our visitors’ enjoyment of this great Museum.” We extend our deepest gratitude to the Urangas for their contributions to The Ringling.