Help Tell the Stories . . .
This season the DAI is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The opening of the museum in 1983 was the highlight of the 1st year, but sharing the stories The al-Sabah Collection (TaSC) tell was what was most inspiring. For 40 years, the DAI has been sharing TaSC objects with people abroad and here in Kuwait. And here in Kuwait that’s been done with the help of DAI Docents.
One former docents said she enjoyed being in the programme because she felt like she was making a difference. She explained that being a docent helped give her a context for her life in Kuwait and that sharing her knowledge and experience with visitors helped make the experience more meaningful for them. What is equally true is that the docents also help make the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah at Amricani Cultural Centre more meaningful. The docents bring the building and the exhibitions to life. They animate otherwise static objects in ways that resonate with visitors, ensuring that when the visitors leave they take part of museum with them.
DAI Docents are volunteers, starting at age 16, who undergo 12 – 15 hours of training before serving as hosts to visitors to the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah at Amricani Cultural Centre. Docents are asked to volunteer at least three hours per month and to participate in special events, like exhibition openings and VIP visits. The DAI offers training in both Arabic and English twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
For information on the DAI Docent programme, including information on registration, please email: amricanieducation@gmail.com
