SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., September 10, 2024 – announced today its upcoming volunteer docent training program scheduled to start on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. The training will equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to help the museum tell the diverse and rich stories of the American West. The 15-week program will run through January 22, 2025, with sessions held every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (excluding November 27 and the last two weeks of December).
Located in Old Town ºÚÁÏÍø’s arts district, Western Spirit showcases rotating exhibitions featuring Western artworks, rare historical objects, and cultural treasures from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions. Docents are vital in enhancing visitors' experiences by leading tours, engaging with guests, and sharing insights into the West's vibrant history. The newest exhibition opening on October 8 is People, Places, Predicaments: John Clymer’s West, celebrating the life and work of renowned artist John Ford Clymer and honoring the legacy of art collector and Arizona philanthropist Eddie Basha. Current exhibitions include Veryl Goodnight: Sled Dogs in America: Alaska & Beyond, Women of the Southwest: A Legacy of Painting, and Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, featuring 65 of the finest examples of Hopi pottery spanning six centuries.
Who Should Apply?
Western Spirit encourages individuals passionate about Western history, education, and art to apply. While prior volunteer or teaching experience is valued, a love for storytelling and engaging with diverse audiences is essential. Docents must attend all training sessions and commit to a minimum of two three-hour shifts per month.
Additional Volunteers Are Also Needed!
In addition to docents, the museum welcomes volunteers for various roles, including welcoming visitors, providing information, and assisting at special events. Whether supporting behind the scenes or directly engaging with guests, volunteers are crucial to the museum’s mission.
Applications are currently being accepted. To apply, visit , or contact Wade Weber, Director of Education, Western Spirit: ºÚÁÏÍø’s Museum of the West:
Phone: 480-530-3461
Email: wweber@westernspirit.org
Western Spirit features regularly changing exhibits of Western and Native American art and artifacts, entertaining events, and informative programs that bring the West’s heritage, culture, and community to life. Other current special exhibitions are Rob Hammer: American Backcourts, through April 13, 2025; William Matthews: Decades, through October 2024; and Dazzling Array: The Richard A. Gates Collection of Native American Jewelry, currently on display.
Additional permanent exhibitions on display include the Frankie and Howard Alper Collection of John Coleman Bronzes; and The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection, a showcase of more than 1,400 saddles, spurs, cowboy gear and other Old West objects.
For more information on Western Spirit: ºÚÁÏÍø’s Museum of the West, go to .
About Western Spirit: ºÚÁÏÍø’s Museum of the West
Western Spirit, located in the heart of Old Town ºÚÁÏÍø, has quickly become a distinguished cultural destination since its opening in January 2015. Within months, it qualified as a Smithsonian Affiliate. The museum boasts a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and maintains an impressive 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor and Yelp. True West magazine consistently recognizes Western Spirit as one of the “Nation’s Best Western Museums”, naming it the #1 Western Museum in the United States. Also, celebrated locally in the following publications: Arizona Foothill’s Best of Our Valley: 2024, “Best Museum”, 2023 “Best Museum” & “Best Annual Charity Event: Saddle Up”, ºÚÁÏÍø Progress’ “Reader Recommended Museum”, Phoenix Magazine’s 2022 Best of The Valley Readers' Choice: “Best Museum You Probably Don’t Know About”, and the winner of Your Valley’s “East Valley Favorites” for the museum category.
In October 2023, the Basha family announced a generous gift to Western Spirit: the majority of the Eddie Basha Collection of American Indian and Western American fine art. Additionally, Western Spirit recently received a $12 million charitable gift from Louis "Buzz" Sands IV, facilitating the construction of nearly 12,000 square feet of new space - named the Louis Sands IV Center which will include two galleries. As Western Spirit approaches its 10th anniversary in January 2025, it continues to enrich the cultural landscape with its dynamic exhibitions and community events. For more information, visit .
Connect with Us:
Instagram: @smowest
Facebook: @westernspirit
