Swannanoa Valley Museum to train new volunteer docents in preparation for opening

When the museum reopens after major renovation they want to be ready with new volunteers to be the face of the organization. The Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center released a call today hoping to recruit new people as docents—volunteer guides—who they say will be the energetic “lifeblood of the museum,” and are the main people staffing the facility on a day to day basis.  To volunteer for the museum, interested people should attend a training for new and returning docents on Friday, September 2 at 10:30 am. However there is additional training for new volunteers on their first day of service.

The museum will then reopen on Tuesday, September 6.

Press release from the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center:

Volunteers are quintessential to the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, which will reopen after major interior renovations on Tuesday, September 6th with a special temporary exhibition entitled, “Edward L. DuPuy’s Artisans of the Appalachians.” In preparation for the opening, the Museum is recruiting new volunteer docents to serve 3.5 hour shifts during the Museum’s opening hours. The Museum will host an orientation for new and returning docents on Friday, September 2 at 10:30 am.

Though installation of the Museum’s second floor exhibit showcasing their permanent collection that ranges from Native American artifacts through mid-century memorabilia, entitled “Pathways from the Past” is still in progress, the Museum wishes to open its doors beginning September 6th for the community to see the remarkable transformation of their building. The building, Black Mountain’s historic Fire House, was designed in 1921 by the Biltmore Estate’s supervising architect, Richard Sharp Smith. The renovation was an effort to stabilize the building, bring it back to Smith’s original design, and add features – like climate control and public restrooms for the comfort and safety of their collection and their guests. A grand reopening celebration for the Museum will be held to in the coming month once all exhibit installations are complete.

The new, temporary exhibition, “Edward L. DuPuy’s Artisans of the Appalachians,” features the work of local photographer, Ed DuPuy. Born in Blacksburg, VA, in 1914, DuPuy moved to Black Mountain, NC, as a teenager. From the 1950s until the 1980s, he made a living photographing weddings, special events, conference groups, real estate, and commercial subjects, but he would also capture everyday life and landscapes around Black Mountain out of pure interest. He was also an artisan woodworker whose antique reproductions no doubt are still in many homes. He taught classes at Black Mountain College, was a dedicated member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and published a book in 1967, Artisans of the Appalachians, about regional craftsmakers. Never before seen photographs of the artisans featured in the publication are exhibited alongside their wares in the Museum’s new exhibit.

The museum, with its engaging exhibits and dynamic programming, is part of the cultural heart of downtown Black Mountain. With its small staff, the museum relies upon volunteers. Over 60 volunteers are the lifeblood of the museum and more volunteers are always needed.

During the open season, the museum is almost entirely staffed by volunteer docents. As museum director Anne Chesky Smith, commented, “The museum has been able to continue to operate in the black every year due to the dedication of our volunteers. Our docents, who staff the Museum on a daily basis, truly are the face of our museum.” Docents greet visitors, introduce the history of the Valley to visitors, track attendance, interpret exhibits, sell gift shop merchandise, and open and close the museum daily. Docents also help with special events, such as school field trips, book signings, or demonstrations held at the museum. As Chesky Smith affirms, “Each and every volunteer is an ambassador of history for visitors and locals alike.” Many docents serve the museum on a consistent weekly basis. Docent shifts run from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Each new docent receives on-the-job training their first day of service.

Volunteering with the museum allows docents to learn about Black Mountain and the surrounding region, while serving the community and forging connections with fellow community members. While some docents are native Western North Carolinians, many are newcomers to the region. Mary Fran Spencer who has served as a docent since she relocated to the area eight years ago stated, “Being a docent has allowed me to get to know a lot of people in the Valley that I would otherwise never have known.” Museum treasurer and native New Yorker Yolanda Smith, concurs, “I’ve met a lot of interesting people from all over the world.” While fellow volunteer and board member Cindy Medlock is a native, serving the museum allows her to connect with her personal history. She commented, “I love serving the community through the museum. I feel it is my responsibility to carry on the heritage of my family. Through the museum, I get to live the history of the area.”

The Swannanoa Valley Museum will host a volunteer docent orientation on Friday, September 2 at 10:30 am. This orientation will provide an overview of docent duties and allow interested volunteers to sign up for docent shifts beginning in September. The events will take place at the museum located at 223 West State Street in downtown Black Mountain. Coffee and refreshments will be served. New and returning docents and volunteers are invited to attend. Attendance is not required to become a volunteer and interested candidates are encouraged to contact the museum directly. For more information email volunteer@swannanoavalleymuseum.org or call (828) 669-9566 or (828) 669-0068.