Interested in art and have a few hours a week of spare time on your hands? Then you just may be what three of the Island's premier art institutions are looking for right now.

Next month, the 137-piece "Carib Art: Contemporary Art of the Caribbean'' exhibition makes its way to Bermuda on its multinational tour.

As one of the largest travelling exhibitions of Caribbean paintings and sculptures ever assembled, it is to be shown at three locations while here: the French and Spanish works will be displayed in the Bermuda National Gallery, the English pieces go to the Bermuda Society of Arts space in City Hall and the Dutch works can be seen in the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard.

Consequently, each of the three facilities will need docents to become familiar with the works and guide visitors through the exhibition, and they've appealed to the public to lend a helping hand.

"We're not necessarily looking for people who have a background in art,'' said Ms Ora Bainbridge, the project's co-ordinator.

"We're simply looking for people who are willing to learn and who can commit themselves to the exhibition at least once a week -- evenings or days.'' Ms Bainbridge said that the docents -- or "glorified tour guides,'' as she called them -- will largely be shepherding school groups through the shows.

"But it won't be a case of just looking at pretty pictures,'' she said.

"We hope to teach (the students) to look at the works with more trained, more inquiring eyes.'' In order to be able to answer questions and provide some intelligent commentary, Ms Bainbridge added, special training will be provided by Mr. Karl (Jerry) Craig, a deputy dean at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Mr. Craig will conduct his training sessions between May 2 and 7.

"Of course, anyone who takes part in the training will learn so much from Jerry themselves about the show and about the art,'' Ms Bainbridge said, adding: "We already have a good number of docents, but we would still like about 20 or 30 more.'' Anyone who is interested in becoming a docent for "Carib Art'' is requested to call the National Gallery at 295-9428.

"Carib Art,'' which is sponsored by UNESCO, first opened on the Dutch island of Curacao in 1993.

The exhibition, which also features the work of five Bermudian artists, will be displayed in Bermuda from May 10 to June 16.

On May 28, Mrs. Esther Allen Bentley will present a "Four Seasons Musical Propgramme'' under the patronage of Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness and his wife Vicki.

The recital, which is to be held at the St. Paul Centennial Hall at 5.30 p.m., will feature, among others, the St. Paul Senior Choir, pianist Danny Hill, harpist Stephen Rawlinson and the Kingsley and Suzanne Swan duet.

Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, cost $10 apiece, with patrons paying $20 or $35 per couple.

Proceeds are in aid of the Matilda Smith Williams residence for seniors.

Tomorrow, meanwhile, the Hibiscus Garden Club will be holding its annual tea at St. Mary's Church Hall in Warwick.

Doors are to open at 3.00 p.m.

BIG SHOW -- "Hartley A La Egyptienne,'' by Barbadian Karl R. Broodhagen, is just one of the 137 pieces in the upcoming "Carib Art'' exhibition. The exhibition requires docents to guide visitors through each of its three locations and provide commentary on the works.

Mrs. Ester Allen Bentley