Touring Policies & Procedures

Often, the principal contact between the Heard Museum and the visiting public is provided by a corps of trained and accredited guides called Las Guias (Spanish for guides). This group of dedicated volunteers extends hospitality, provides interpretation of exhibits and programs and, in a warm and personal way, implements the official mission of the museum, ”to educate the public about the heritage and the living cultures and arts of Native peoples, with an emphasis on the peoples of the southwest.”

Any member of the Heard Museum Guild may join Las Guias. To become a guide, the student must complete the basic training course of 96 hours and demonstrate effective guiding performance in the museum galleries.

The Las Guias training course begins each fall in October under the sponsorship of the Heard Museum Guild working closely with the professional staff of the museum’s Education Department. There is no prerequisite beyond interest, but a fee is charged. A commitment is required of at least two years of guide service with a minimum of 30 tours per year (two scheduled half-days per month, June through May).

Touring Guidelines is a series of web pages detailing the  long-standing guiding policies and procedures, together with changes and developments which reflect the evolving role of Las Guias, in support of the dynamic programs and services of the museum.

Please select from the topics available on the menu to the right to find out more.