AAO Webinar: The Value of Docent-Led Architecture Tours

The next AAO webinar will feature newly published research by AAO member Jason Nu, PhD, documenting the process of creating docent-led architecture tours, the emotional impact they make on pubic tourgoers, and why it’s such a powerful tool for promoting design. For his dissertation in the field of geography, Nu conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork on architecture tours using the Chicago Architecture Foundation as a case study.

As Jason studied the do’s and don’ts of effective communication and theatrical blocking that form the bedrock of a veteran tour docent’s art, he unpacked how the experience was received by the tourgoer. In helping awaken people to see architecture and city design, we also come to see why docents are such essential stewards of design culture.

If you’re tasked with fundraising, evaluating, or generating external communications about your organization’s architectural tour program, or just looking to check and see if your docent training program is emphasizing the right notes, this is a great AAO webinar for you.

Audience Q&A will follow Jason’s brief presentation. Webinar attendees will be given access to the full dissertation. Registration is open to all AAO members.

It’s not everyday that we come across a 300+ page document on a topic tailored to our field! We encourage you to take advantage of this research and attend the webinar.