Bill Sitzer (he/him) is a docent and educator at the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM). Prior to his retirement and becoming a docent, Bill spent more than 40 years in a career where he focused on cultivating the skills of careful listening and observation. As a result, the VTS method of engagement was for him a natural extension of lifelong professional engagement practices. Further, he is a classically trained violinist and chamber musician, where he focuses on the importance of collaboration and listening, concepts fundamental to the elements of VTS.

As an educator at SLAM, Bill worked for several years with members of museum staff and in consultation with community academics, clergy, and leaders developing an Interfaith tour program for the museum. These tours continue to focus on recurring themes of faith across history and cultures. They are grounded in the elements of VTS and designed to promote open and respectful discourse among museum visitors. Bill has published a case study in the Journal of Museum Education about this program and now serves as a peer reviewer for that Journal.

Bill is proud to be a part of the team that moderates the weekly New York Times multimedia fixture, “What’s Going on in this Picture.” He considers VTS engagement an essential path to enhanced learning, visual literacy, collaboration, deep listening, respectful dialogue and community building.

Contact Bill: bsitzer@vtshome.org