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Art Center Waco's Gallery-Studio Tours For Students are designed to motivate students to integrate art into everyday life and to practice essential problem-solving skills needed to do well in school.

And Art Center Waco is right in your own backyard!

You know us as the place for art and ideas but we are also an exciting place for them to LOOK, LEARN, CREATE, and REFLECT about art and how it affects our lives.

about our tours

Gallery-Studio Tours For Students are offered throughout the school year on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday beginning at 9:30 am. Special time requests may be made through the tour manager.

Tours are led by a team of professional gallery teachers who design tours based on changing gallery exhibits or the outdoor sculpture walk that correlate to curricular standards and incorporate inquiry-based strategies that engage students in discussions about the works of art.

After the tour, students create their own artwork in the studios--experiencing a variety of media such as painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking and clay. Studio projects and their media relate specifically to current exhibition at the time of your tour.

length of tour

Grades K - 2:          1 hour and 30 minutes

Grades 3 and up:     2 hours

admission

Tour fees are $3 per student. Teachers, chaperones, and bus drivers are admitted free.

group size

Tours should include a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 60.

how to book your gallery-studio tour

Contact our tour manager at 254-752-4371 or by e-mail at least 2 weeks in advance of your requested date. Have the following information ready when you call:

• School/group name
• Preferred date and time
• 3 alternate dates and times in case your first choice is not available
• Name of contact person
• Contact address and telephone number
• Number of people in the group plus number of adult chaperones
• Grade level or age of group
• Special needs

pre-tour packet

Your confirmation, instructions, museum information, tour materials and maps will be mailed to you after you book your tour. A week before your tour, please phone us to confirm the date, time and the number in your group. You may call any time and leave a voice mail message.

classroom preparation

Research shows that children whose education includes a visual arts component have consistently out-performed those who do not have fine arts enrichment, no matter what their socioeconomic level.

Preparing your students to visit Art Center Waco is an important step to making the experience meaningful and enjoyable. Discuss with students the details of their visit: when and how they will get to the museum, what they will see, who will lead them through the exhibit and in the studio, and appropriate behavior. It is also helpful for teachers to prepare for museum visits by attending our teacher preview programs, Evening For Educators, or viewing exhibits on this website.

We encourage all teachers to capitalize on the interdisciplinary nature of a visit to Art Center Waco and integrate tour content into Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Technology lessons in the classroom.

For ideas on preparing your students for museum visits and for relating your visit to classroom curricula, contact our Education Department. We look forward to serving you and your students.

lunch in the courtyard

Tour groups are welcome to bring sack lunches and eat in the courtyard. Please notify the tour manager if you would like to reserve the courtyard for your group.

museum manners

• Do not touch art, cases or walls.
• Walk. No running or horseplay.
• No food, drink or gum.
• Keep voices low.

cancellations and late arrivals

If you must cancel a tour, please call immediately so the education department can inform the gallery teachers prepared to lead your group. We cannot guarantee gallery teachers or complete scheduled program for groups arriving more than 15 minutes late. Please call the museum to advise of any schedule changes.

helpful tips

• Reserve your tour before booking transportation.
• Check your school's calendar for test dates, holidays, report card pick-up days and special activities before making your reservation.
• All tours must be scheduled by the person in charge of the group.

self-guided groups

Self-guided groups are always welcome, so:

• Teachers should make a reservation in advance to ensure accessibility to gallery. Afternoon visits are recommended for self-guided groups.
• Self-guided groups must be accompanied at all times by 1 chaperone for each 10 students and must always yield to other groups in the gallery.

evening for educators

These evening programs are designed especially to welcome teachers to Art Center Waco and preview each new exhibit throughout the year. Learn how works of art and art processes can enrich your teaching. Tour the gallery and take part in hands-on workshops. Engaging and practical activities bring art into all curriculum areas. Each educator who attends receives a certificate of participation. Refreshments are provided. The fee for each program is $5. Pre-registration is not required, so you can plan ahead or simply drop by at the last minute. For more information, contact our Education Department.