Museum Ambassadors Program
Want to add your voice to the arts and become part of the team at the Smithsonian-affiliated Polk Museum of Art?
Welcome to the Museum Ambassadors Program or MAP!
We’re inviting students to add their unique and diverse perspectives to the life of our academic museum. Through MAP, you’ll have the opportunity to represent the Polk Museum as a liaison between the Museum, your college campus, and the larger community. You’ll be able to participate in training to become a Student Docent or Museum Associate, working directly with the public and in the galleries, while also having exclusive chances to learn about and help contribute to the planning of exhibitions and programs at the Museum.
Plus, you’ll get special Museum Ambassador perks just for contributing to the program!
No art experience? No problem! We’re looking for a broad range of perspectives, backgrounds, and interests to champion the Museum and let the world know why the arts are more important now than ever.
As a Museum Ambassador you’ll be a voice for the arts — and a key junior member of our growing student team.
To register your interest in becoming part of MAP, please complete the form at the bottom of this page. Below, you can also find additional information about program tiers, student committees, and more!
Already a MAP Student? Click the button below to sign up for your complimentary Student Membership!
MAp TIERS
Museum Ambassadors
Museum Ambassadors work with Museum staff and other ambassadors to imagine new Student/Community engagement initiatives. Students contribute ideas for in-person and virtual Museum programming as a Student Advisory Council (including guest-curating exhibitions) and plan, host, and attend their own exclusive MAP and MAP-sponsored events.
Student Docents
Student Docents receive hands-on training and learn the basics of Art History, the history of the Museum, and how to be an expert guide to the exhibitions on display. Student docents lead guided tours for Museum visitors of all ages and interests, greet and supervise guests, and serve as gallery monitors for spaces an objects.
Student Museum Associates
Student Museum Associates work directly with the public, members, and visitors to the Museum and receive hands-on training in the front-of-house Museum experience. Students will greet guests, check in visitors, and answer general questions about the Museum. Additionally, students can choose to learn more about signing up and recruiting new members of the Museum and/or work in our retail shop.
MAP Committees
At any level, there is more opportunity to get involved and make an impact. Join one (or more) of four committees that best serves your interests, skills, and field of study/major to further your experience within the Museum Ambassadors Program.
Ambassador Development and Education - Focuses on internal development and Ambassador education, including planning continuing education opportunities and creating educational materials, providing feedback and assisting in the advancement of the program, and accessing and furthering accessibility.
Events - Proposing, planning, and executing events within the program, as well as creating experiences for students and the community.
Engagement & Communication - Coordinating and planning marketing and outreach efforts for all program aspects, including developing creative content for social media and marketing efforts, while also developing a strong and consistent brand for the program.
Outreach & Advancement - Focuses on recruiting new MAP students and serves as the liaison between college campuses and the Museum by representing the program at external events, speaking to interested students and professors, and presenting to campus clubs and groups.