The volunteer guides of the Docent Programme offer visitors free guided tours in English and in Hungarian in the Old Masters’ collection.
Please note: An admission fee is charged to all visitors.

There are no free guided tours available in the temporary exhibitions. For advance booking of group tours and to arrange private tours, please contact the Museum Education Department at education(at)mfab(dot)hu or call +36 1 469-7180 to schedule a guided tour with one of our Museum guides for a fee. Tours can be arranged in English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish.

Click here for more details »

The word docent is derived from the Latin „docere” meaning to lead. Originally used to denote a professor or university lecturer, the term has expanded to include the volunteer guides who staff many museums and other educational institutions. Docents introduce guests to the Museum collections by providing free tours throughout the galleries and help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the art on display. In addition to their function as guides, docents also often conduct research using the institution's facilities or provide administrative support for the Docent Programme.

Prospective Docents undergo intensive training by the Museum that focuses on interpretive and communication skills so they may better introduce the Museum’s collections to visitors. The Spring 2013 training season consists of two components: the Docent Training Workshop and a two-part lecture series.

Since all of these classes are in English, it is essential that prospective Docents have a fluent grasp of the English language, although it is not necessary to be a native speaker.

The Docent Training Workshop focuses on the practical aspects of docenting – largely presentation and interpretive skills. This Training Workshop is a series of required classes, open only to prospective docents. These classes meet on Tuesdays, after the Art Studies lectures, from 13.00 to 14.30.

The Art Studies Lecture Series in Spring 2013 consists of two main parts: a course on the Highlights of the museum led by museum professionals that focuses on the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest’s permanent collections, and an additional thematic lecture series that examines the connection between the rich symbolism of the Bible and art. These lectures are open to the public – all are welcome!

The fee to train as a docent is HUF 50,000 which includes the Training Workshop classes and materials, as well as both lecture series. A detailed description of each series follows below. If you are interested in applying as a Docent-in-Training, please contact the Docent Programme of the Museum Education Department at docent(at)mfab(dot)hu or call +36 1 469-7291.

If you wish to attend the lectures but not become a docent, you may attend any of the Art  Lectures for HUF 2,500 per lecture and the Bible Illuminates Art for HUF 1,800 per lecture. All are welcome. Advance registration is not required - come when you can!


OPEN HOUSE – TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2013, 11.00  – 13.00

Join us for a docent-led tour in the permanent collection, then enjoy refreshments while we introduce you to this unique programme. Meet some of the docents and find out what special benefits they enjoy. No entry ticket is required to attend the Open House. Meet in the lobby from 10.45 a.m.

ART LECTURE SERIES
BEAUTY ALL AROUND
Favourite Highlights at the Museum of Fine Arts
SPRING 2013

The Museum of Fine Arts opened its doors to the public in 1906. As opposed to many fine arts museums in Europe, which evolved out of royal collections, the establishment of this museum was rooted in the whole nation’s dedication. The idea of creating a major cultural institution was embraced by all, including the Hungarian nobility, clergymen, intellectuals, artists and the burgeoning bourgeoisie. Their generous donations were, in fact, indispensable for building up an internationally recognized collection.

This season will focus on our most cherished treasures. Giorgione, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Bruegel, Rubens, Manet and Monet are just a few among many masters whose works will be in the spotlight. After an introductory lecture on the fascinating details of the history of the museum and the development of its collections, each lecturer will chain together her favourite highlights so as to inspire the audience to look at art in a more complex way.

Tuesdays 10.15 – 12.00
12 February – 16 April 2013

12 February
Assembling Bits and Pieces – The History of the Museum of Fine Arts
Lecturer: Zsófia Kovács

26 February
Time and Space in Art
Lecturer: Zsófia Tettamanti

5 March
A Journey around Colours and Centuries
Lecturer: Krisztina Mácsay

12 March
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder – Beautiful Masterpieces
Lecturer: Edina Deme

19 March
Old Men, Demons and Monsters – The “Ugly” in the Museum of Fine Arts
Lecturer: Zsófia Kovács

26 March
Playful Paintings - Children on the Canvas
Lecturer: Eszter Tóth

9 April
Painterly Methods and their Effects – From Frescos to Tempera and Oil Paintings
Lecturer: András Fáy

16 April
Framing Art History – Picture Frames
Lecturer: András Fáy

All dates and times are subject to change.

Everyone is welcome – the lectures are open to all. Attend only a few or the whole series. No need to register in advance. Come when you can!

Cost
For guests: HUF 2,500 per lecture. Just buy a ticket at the lobby cashier right before the lecture. Please ask for a “Docent Programme – Renaissance Lecture Ticket”. You do not need to pay for entry to the Museum in addition. After the lecture, please feel free to use this ticket to enjoy all the galleries in the permanent collection. For Docents-in-Training: This series is included in the overall training fee.

Location
Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, Heroes Square
Italian Gallery (1st Floor)
Please check with the Information Desk in the lobby upon arrival for the exact location of the lecture. 

Contact
Docent Programme, Museum Education Department
Telephone: +36 1 469-7291
E-mail: docent(at)mfab(dot)hu

THE BIBLE ILLUMINATES ART
The Genesis of Enduring Beauty
SRING  2013

For over a millennium, the majority of European paintings had a religious purpose, expressed in vivid, symbolic imagery. The Bible, in all its splendor and complexity, is a rich work of faith, history, and literature. Its stories and themes have inspired magnificent works of art by the masters down through the ages. Join us this Spring as we examine the outstanding collection in the Museum of Fine Arts.

This season the Bible Illuminates Art offers five lectures based on themes found in Art and the Bible. Discover how and why artists interpreted these popular and sometimes controversial subjects through the worldview of their day. We will link our paintings to famous works of art around the world.

Each class begins with a lecture illustrated by a Power Point presentation of paintings that relate to the topic. We then move into the galleries for a closer look at the art itself.

Thursdays 10.15 – 12.00
21 March – 18 April 2013

21 March
Extravagant Claims and Bold Gestures

28 March
Still Life –  The Best of Both Worlds

11 April
Daring Disciples –  Men Who Turned the World Upside Down

18 April
Kings of the Earth and the King of Heaven

Lecturer: Jane Stevens

All dates, times and locations are subject to change.

Attendance is on a drop-in basis for guests.
Join us whenever you can and bring a friend.
No need to register in advance. Come when you can!

Cost
For guests: HUF 1,800 per lecture
Just buy a ticket at the lobby cashier right before the lecture. Please ask for a “Docent Programme – Bible Lecture Ticket”. You do not need to pay for entry to the Museum in addition. After the lecture, please feel free to use this ticket to enjoy all the galleries in the permanent collection.
For Docents-in-Training: This series is included in the training fee.

Location
Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, Heroes Square
Italian Gallery (1st Floor)
Please check with the Information Desk in the lobby upon arrival for the exact location. 

Contact
For more information, contact Jane Stevens.
Tel: +36 30 622-1890
E-mail: janeinbudapest(at)yahoo(dot)com
[Please put “Bible/Art” in the subject line.]

Docent Programme
Museum Education Department
Museum of Fine Arts Budapest
1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 41.
Levélcím: H-1396 Budapest 62., Pf. 463
Tel.: +36 1 469-7291
Fax: +36 1 469-7107
docent(at)mfab(dot)hu