The UA museum is offering free training in art history, education and criticisms for the art enthusiast through the docent program beginning this fall.

This year's program will focus on art history, using the museum's collection of 4,000 drawings, paintings, prints and sculptures.

Volunteer docents help museum visitors and local school students learn how to enjoy spending time with art. They introduce the vocabulary and basic skills of art appreciation and increase viewers' knowledge about the creative act, according to a university press release.

"The docents are advocates for the museum," said Josh Goldberg, museums curator of education. "We put their face out to the community."

Docents conduct tours of the museum and prepare in-class presentations for elementary and middle schools, to prepare students for a visit to the museum or focusing on ways of looking at and interpreting art.

"The docent program can be taken for credit through the art department," Goldberg said. "But is open to anyone in the community who is interested."

There are about 40 docents in the program now, and they are looking for about 10 more volunteers, he said.

Training sessions start at 9 a.m. to noon each Monday, beginning Sept. 16 through May 12.

Interviews will begin Aug. 19. For more information call 621-7567.