And many of the works here are just plain fun to look at. I asked Suzanne Pender, who helps train the Hirshhorn's 79 volunteer docents, if they are up to dealing with the demands of the tourists, especially the querulous ones who want to know what everything means. These docents are special. New Hirshhorn docents have all had college-level art history coursework, and train for nine months with museum staff and senior docents. Then they have to give a sample tour to experienced docents and are duly critiqued.
Many docents speak foreign languages, a distinct advantage in polyglot Washington.
We don't simply tell them what to say about each work or give them scripts to memorize. We allow them to develop their own tours, based on their knowledge, interests and strengths. They improve and change the tours as they go along and as the collection changes. If the docent can't answer a question, she or he is supposed to go find out and write to the person afterward. We don't have Acoustiguides at the Hirshhorn.