Volunteer docents play a vital role in welcoming visitors and helping them explore the exhibitions, collections, and ideas that make the Folger unique. Docents help bring the Folger to life for tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Who you are
Folger volunteer docents are curious, welcoming, and eager to engage with visitors. Docents ask questions of themselves and of our visitors to spark curiosity and inspire deeper observation.
They interact with each other and with everyone who enters the Folger. They support programming and tours related to the exhibition halls, and they help facilitate meaningful conversations about the history, literature, and ideas represented in the Folger collections and in the exhibitions. Working alongside Folger staff, docents are an important part of the team that makes each day successful.
What you do
During their shifts, docents provide a wonderful experience to all who enter the building. No prior expertise in Shakespeare is required. Training and continuing education provide the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the role.
Docent shifts are typically three hours long, with volunteer opportunities throughout the week and on weekends. All docent activities take place at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Gallery guides
All docents are asked to serve as gallery guides. In this vital role, docents greet visitors, answer questions, and help visitors engage with the exhibitions. Gallery guides are pivotal to providing a welcoming and informative experience for all visitors who enter the Folger’s doors.
Program support
Additionally, docents are asked to volunteer their time to opportunities that appeal to them. These roles involve support for education and programming across the Folger, including the regular programs listed below. Docents also support other special programs throughout the year, such the annual Folger Frost Fair in December and Shakespeare’s Birthday in April.
- Family Workshops: Support hands-on Saturday workshops where children and families explore Shakespeare together.
- Guided Tours: Lead conversational tours through the Folger’s exhibition halls and historic spaces that help enhance visitors’ experiences.
- Printing Demonstrations: Help bring early modern printing techniques to life by leading or assisting demonstrations of how books were produced in Shakespeare’s time.
- Student Events: Welcome weekday school groups and lead tours that introduce students to Shakespeare and the Folger.
Docent requirements
◊ Complete New Docent Training
New Docent Training begins in September and concludes in November. It is a hybrid training, with evening sessions to accommodate work schedules.
◊ Attend Monthly Continuing Education Sessions
Docents participate in continuing education sessions to further their learning and receive information about Folger programs and exhibitions.
◊ Complete 100 Hours of Volunteer Service Every Calendar Year
Volunteer service includes gallery guide shifts, programming support, and continuing education attendance. All new docents receive 50 service hours for the successful completion of New Docent Training in their first full year of volunteering.
Docent benefits
- 50% off two tickets to any Folger Theatre offerings, including plays, Consort performances, and poetry readings
- 20% off Folger Shop and Quill & Crumb café purchases
- Invitations to docent appreciation events hosted by the Folger
- Access to Folger exhibitions during public hours
Apply to become a Folger Docent
Docent applications are open through Friday, July 17, 2026.
If interested, please fill out a Folger Docent Application for consideration. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Ideal candidates enjoy engaging with people, are curious about literature and history, and are excited to help visitors explore the Folger.
Applicants who move forward in the process will be invited to interview with Folger staff. Interviews will take place in June and July, with training beginning in September.
Questions? Email Docents@folger.edu for more information.