Sonoma Museum Seeks Guide Team Volunteers

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art wants to bolster its volunteer guide roster.

There museum has 16 trained guides supported by the museum's staff.

It hopes to add more guides for its “Kitchen Memories: The Kathleen Thompson Hill Culinary Collection” exhibit.

The museum is also offering special guide training to conduct educational tours for the fourth-and fifth-grade in-school A.R.T.S. (Art Rewards the Student) program participants.

“It’s a part-time career, and if you love looking at art, learning about it, and discussing it, you will be a very happy museum guide,” said Karin Bartow, a guide since 2010.

Guides typically meet up in small groups, informally learning from each other by sharing their experiences with visitors and the art on exhibit.

Their responsibilities also include supporting the museum’s outreach and marketing efforts, helping staff on the admission desk, assist with fund-raising events, and serving as unofficial art ambassadors wherever they go.

Guides regularly receive exhibition briefings.

Prospective guides can learn more about the position at an informational presentation on Sept. 8 (from 2–4 p.m.).

Attendees will meet with museum staff and guides. A nine-week training program for the new class of museum guides starts on Sept. 30.

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (551 Broadway) is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guides are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:30–3:30.