School Tours

• Arrive on time. Visits are closely scheduled, and docents have a strict timetable. Please call the museum at 215.340.9800 about any delay. Late arrivals may have a shortened visit.
• Buses may discharge and pick up visitors at the Pine Street entrance, then park at the rear of the library parking lot. See Group Visit Bus Parking Information.
• The length of your visit corresponds with the program you selected. Please consult your confirmation form for the length of your visit.
• Chaperones are expected to stay with their group and assume responsibility for student supervision at all times.
• Polite behavior in the museum includes no running or shouting. Other visitors are in the galleries during your visit. Respect the museum environment and museum visitors during your visit. Be polite, quiet, attentive and calm.
• Do not lean against walls or pedestals, as some of them are movable. Do not climb on outdoor sculptures or architectural structures.
• Pencil activities need prior arrangement. Pens are not permitted in the galleries! See Guidelines for Written Activities.
• Backpacks, packages, gum, food, and water are not permitted in galleries.
• Cell phones must be turned off or put on vibrate mode during a visit. If you must take a call, please go to the lobby area.
• Photography is permitted with some limitations within the museum. Please check with museum staff before taking pictures. 
• Touch with eyes, not fingertips. Remember, sculpture is art, too.
• Museum personnel are available for assistance during your visit.

Please cooperate: museum rules are for your safety and for the enjoyment of your visit. The museum reserves the right to ask any member of your group to leave if their behavior is impacting the museum experience for others.

The Michener Art Museum presents exhibitions that explore a variety of artistic expressions, subject matter and styles. You may encounter works of art with nudity in our museum galleries.

• High school and college groups may write or sketch with pencils in galleries under teacher supervision.
• Grades four and up may participate in written pencil activities while seated in a supervised gallery space.
• Teachers must notify the museum prior to the day of the visit, preferably at the time of confirmation, if they are planning a written assignment for their students.
• Pencils and support boards will be provided for school groups with prior notification. Only pencils and boards supplied by the museum may be used. Students are welcome to bring their own sketchbooks or writing journals.

Is the cost of a field trip a barrier for your school? The Michener Art Museum offers transportation assistance and admission scholarship to qualifying PreK-12 public, private, magnet, charter, alternative, independent or other schools demonstrating Title I status and/or having 28% or more of the student body participating in Free Lunch programs.

Transportation Scholarship:
Limited transportation scholarships are available to schools who qualify for free admission for field trips. Up to 100% of transportation costs may be covered, pending the availability of funds.

Admission and Program Scholarship:
The cost of Museum admission, guided tours and studio lesson fees may also be covered for eligible school organizations.

To inquire about a school tour and subsequent bus scholarships, please contact Ondrea Reisinger,  oreisinger@michenerartmuseum.org. All Bus Scholarships and financial assistance funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis.  

Funding for the Bus Scholarship Program is provided by an anonymous donor in honor of Ruth Anderson.  

Chaperones No students may visit the museum unchaperoned. Student behavior in the museum is the responsibility of the chaperones from your school. Museum reserves the right to remove any student being disruptive during their visit or to cancel a visit if behavior is uncontrolled. Arrange for one chaperone per six students, and distribute the informational welcome letter to chaperones. 

Fees All guided school programs are $50, plus $5 per student. (There is no per-student fee for Preschool or Kindergarten visitors). Visits to the Museum are facilitated with grade level, curriculum goals, and developmental stages in mind. Special requests for tour content and/or format are invited during the booking process. Art-making sessions as part of your visit are available for an additional fee. Please submit a School Visit Request Form, or email the Group Tours and Bookings Coordinator

Lunch The Michener Art Museum does not have a cafeteria or indoor facilities for students to eat. However, the front sculpture garden (the area between the museum and library) and the Pfundt Sculpture Garden may be open for your group to enjoy lunch outdoors. Please inquire about space availability at the time of reservation. In the event of inclement weather, lunches may be eaten on the bus or in an alternative location.  

Please note that groups are responsible for their own trash removal and cleanup. Chaperones are responsible for managing student behavior.  

Accessibility All museum programs are available to all students and the museum’s educators and docent team are trained in making programs accessible to all learners. Please inform the museum of any special needs that your students may have when making your reservation. For those with physical disabilities, the museum offers an accessible entrance, parking, elevators, and lunch and restroom facilities. Touch Tours are available for students with low or no vision. Sign language interpreters are also available upon advance request.  Sign language interpreters are also available upon advance request. 

Museum Shop Special arrangements must be made for school groups interested in visiting our Museum Shop following their visit. Please inquire during time of reservation. Students typically spend $3 to $10 in the Museum Shop. 

Prior to Arrival Please have large groups pre-divided as instructed during booking process. If school policy permits, nametags are extremely helpful for museum educators and staff. 

On Arrival Buses may unload and pick up visitors at the Pine Street entrance before parking at the rear of the library parking lot. Please have students remain on the bus while the group leader checks in at the Visitors Services desk in the lobby. You will be greeted in the lobby by the lead docent (larger groups may be instructed to gather in the courtyard outside of the museum entrance). All groups will be admitted at their scheduled arrival time; late arrivals will result in shortened lessons. Groups intending to self-tour before their lesson will be admitted after groups with earlier appointments. 

If you need to change or cancel your confirmed visit, please do so as quickly as possible by contacting the Group Tours and Bookings Coordinator by email oreisinger@michenerartmuseum.org. Please note we may not be able to accommodate all changes.

Cancellations for confirmed school visits are subject to a 25% cancellation fee up to 72 hours before the scheduled tour. Less than 72 hours’ notice or no shows may be charged the full program fee. This excludes weather related delays and cancellations.

Photographs of you and/or your students and his/her/their artwork may be taken during your group visit to the Michener Art Museum. These may be used for video, website, Internet, publicity, films, social media, and Museum publications.  Individuals’ names will never appear in conjunction with the images. The Michener will not share these images with any other institution or organization for their use. Please reach out to the Manager of School Programs with any questions or concerns regarding this policy.

Help students prepare for their experience at Michener Art Museum with our social narrative especially designed for school group visitors. This guide contains photographs and descriptions of what students can expect during their field trip to the Museum.