MAG offers exciting ways to bring our collection to life and to connect students and teachers with art from around the world. Bring your students to MAG for docent-guided or teacher-guided tours of our collection and/or our temporary exhibitions. School tours provide opportunities for engaging with content and standards across subject areas and grade levels. If accommodations are needed for any student, please let us know! Requests for tours in American Sign Language are welcome.
Important Information
- We welcome teachers to visit the museum as part of your tour planning process. Contact learning@mag.rochester.edu to request complimentary admission
- School Tours are available Wednesday–Friday, 9:30 am–4:00 pm
- We recommend requesting your tour at least three weeks in advance
- Limited funds are available for transportation reimbursement
- Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your tour’s start time. This allows ample time to welcome your group, ensuring you can enjoy your full tour experience
- Tours for 3rd grade and up are 60 minutes, and 45 minutes for PreK–2nd grade
- Additional time beyond your scheduled tour must be requested in advance. We do not have space available for lunch
- Teacher-guided tours are welcome but must be booked in advance using the School Tour Request Form. We cannot accept requests with less than five days’ notice
- We request 72 hours’ notice for cancellations. Our volunteer docents’ time is very important to us
- Please review the School Tour Guidelines (PDF) with all chaperones and students before arriving. We’ve created a comic version (PDF) to share with students before their visit. You can also download a long-form description (PDF) of the comic
- Download a PDF of where to drop kids off and park the bus at MAG
- Not able to make it to the Museum? We can come to you! Contact learning@mag.rochester.edu to learn more
Teacher Tour Tips
In addition to reviewing the information below, you can also download and print out the tour tips, a tour checklist, the chaperone guidelines, and a Social Story.
Tour Checklist
Before Your Visit
- Receive MAG Confirmation
- Schedule bus(es)
- Assign chaperones (one per eight to ten students) and make a plan for dividing your class into groups based on the number of docent guides
- Touch base with Contact Docent (two to four weeks prior to tour)
- Share Social Story, For Your Students, and For Your Chaperones Information
- Send update on estimated attendance numbers to tours@mag.rochester.edu (one week prior to tour)
Day of Visit
- Divide students into groups based on number of docent guides
- Arrive at MAG 15 minutes before the tour start time
- Meet with tour coordinator to verify number cohorts, exit time and location
- Enjoy the tour!
Social Story
To help prepare for a visit, download and review our Social Story with photos and text about what to expect while on a school tour. Our Social Story is a specialized resource designed in partnership with AutismUp. It can be used by any visitor who may benefit from descriptions and visuals that show what a visit to MAG may be like.
Length of Tour Time Slots
- Grades 3 & up – 75 min. total (60 min. tour with 15 min. for welcome and transition)
- Pre-K–2 – 60 min. total (45 min. tour with 15 min. for welcome and transition)
- Tours will not be extended due to late arrival. If your group will be arriving late, please call (585) 276-8974 to let us know
- Additional visit time beyond your scheduled tour slot must be requested in advance
What Students Will See
During the tour your students will not all see the same pieces of art. They will, however, all be encouraged to engage with art through observation and conversations led by MAG’s trained docent guides.
If there is something you want your students to see and learn about, please communicate this to your contact docent. Artwork is rotated, and objects may not be on display during your tour.
The MAG has over 5,000 years of world art, which includes some artists’ depictions of the human body. Students may see a variety of artistic expression in passing as they move throughout the galleries, and sometimes this may include nude figures. We are prepared to address questions that may come up and then redirect students’ attention to the artworks that are a part of their focused tour plans. If you have any questions or concerns about content, please contact learning@mag.rochester.edu to connect with a museum educator.
Chaperone Expectations, Ratio, and Goals
- We require one chaperone per eight to ten students and request that chaperones do not bring additional children
- If you feel you need more than one chaperone for eight to ten students, please explain reasoning on request form
- Make sure your chaperones understand the importance of their role to the visit’s success. Sharing the museum guidelines along with ideas on how to handle any disruptions can help chaperones feel confident and supported
- We request chaperones do not use their cell phones other than to take pictures while on the tour or communicate with other group leaders, so their full attention is given to the students, and they are present in the experience
We ask that chaperones:
- Always stay with your assigned group in the museum
- Actively supervise student behavior
- Keep students together as a group
- Refrain from being on your phone during the tour
- Do not bring other children with you on the tour
Beyond Your Tour
MAG does not have dining facilities for school tour groups. We have beautiful outdoor spaces for picnic lunches, weather permitting. Please plan accordingly and have a rain plan.
Cancellation Policy
Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your tour. Our volunteer docents’ time is very important to us. The sooner you can contact us, the more likely we can find another visit date.
Transportation Reimbursements
MAG is pleased to provide transportation reimbursement, up to $200, to eligible public schools based on their free and reduced lunch status on a first-come, first-served basis during the school year. Please indicate your interest in receiving this reimbursement when you complete the School Tour Request Form. Contact Allison Goodwin, Director of Academic & Community Programs, at agoodwin@mag.rochester.edu for more information.
Docent-Led Guided Tours
The Memorial Art Gallery is thrilled to welcome PreK-12 students and teachers to join us on an art-filled journey through our galleries to spark curiosity, make connections, and explore human creativity from around the world!
School tours at MAG provide a unique way to engage with content and standards across subject areas and grade levels while also promoting social-emotional learning through the visual arts. Our “Learning to Look” tour is designed to connect students with art, each other, and their community through MAG’s extensive collection and the power of collaborative slow looking and discussion.
All docent-led tours empower students to use their individual and collective observations as inspiration for their interpretation, while our guides share interesting stories and fun facts to enrich their understanding. We hope students depart with a greater sense of wonder and the motivation to leave their own artistic mark on the world!
Request a School Tour
We are excited to offer free school tours! Reservations must be made in advance through the school tour request form.
More to Explore
The Memorial Art Gallery’s School Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
School tours are provided free of charge with support from Katherine K. Cove.
Transportation reimbursement for school tours is generously supported by Joseph Dimino, and an anonymous donor.
Additional support for School Programs is provided by the John C. and Elsa L. Beach and Eileen M. Sullivan Education Endowment, the Elizabeth Brayer Family Endowment, the Sandra G. Dreyfuss Education Endowment Fund, the Emma Jane Drury Education Fund, the MAG Education Endowment Fund, the Patricia S. Fishman Educational Endowment, the Joanna M. and Michael R. Grosodonia Fund, the Frank Grosso and Diane Holahan Grosso Fund, the Mary Sue Jack Endowed Fund, the Marion Lord and John L. Swierkos Education Endowment, the Memorial Art Gallery Community Access Endowment, the Joan B. Morgan Education Endowment, the Mary Ann Monley and William D. Rice Education Endowment, and the Josephine Tota Endowment.
The McPherson Director of Academic Programs is partially endowed by an anonymous donor and supported by the MAG Director of Education Fund and the Joan Feinbloom School Programming Fund. Support for the Estelle B. Goldman Museum Educators is provided by the Estate of Estelle B. Goldman.
