The YCBA docents are volunteer museum guides with varied backgrounds and interests. The program began when the museum opened in 1977 and is a vital part of the YCBA’s Education department. Docents are trained from September to May by YCBA educators, curators, and scholars from Yale and around the globe. Docents learn about British art, culture, and history from the sixteenth century to the present, providing context for the museum's permanent collection and special exhibitions.