Planning Group Tours of the Museum
Tour Topics · Scheduling a Tour
Tours are free for prearranged school tour groups and chaperons on either docent-led or self-guided tours. Adult tour groups pay Museum admission and a $2 service fee. Please note, you must meet at the Lancaster Street entrance for a tour.
Our tours are tailored to meet your specific needs, goals and interests. They are guided by trained and dedicated volunteers docents who will assist students of all ages develope their visual and thinking skills while engaging in inquiry and observation at the Museum.
Our special exhibitions and permanent collections can be used to support the goals of your curriculum through tours, hands-on workshops, teachers resources and other events. We look forward to talking with you about your goals and working with you to create a fun and enriching experience for you and your students at WAM.
Whether introductory or a special theme tour of our collections or special exhibitions, a Worcester Art Museum tour will support and enrich curricula in many areas including art, language arts, social studies, math and foreign languages.
| Tour Topics | |
|---|---|
| Animals in Art | Students discover animals, both real and imaginary, in a variety of media found in our Asian, Egyptian, Greek, Precolumbian and American Galleries among others. The images of animals as symbols and the legends and myths they tell will also be discussed. |
| American Art and Culture | View American history and, specifically, local history in our painting and decorative arts galleries. Representations from the colonial period to the early 20th century can help students better understand culture, society and the history of this country. |
| Footprints from the Past | Bring to life the cultures of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. By viewing ancient art and architecture - mummies, pottery, mosaics - students discover the “footprints” of these civilizations and the impact they have had on succeeding cultures, including our own. |
| Museum Discovery Experience | What is a museum and what will you find there? Students have the opportunity to see what a museum collects and to experience the “feel” of a museum. This tour is especially appropriate for young, first-time visitors. |
| The Arts of Asia | Japan, China, India and the Islamic world can be explored individually or as a group on a tour that introduces various cultural ideas, stories and art to students. |
| Self-Guided Discovery | Teachers may prefer to have students work independently in the galleries on assignments brought from the classroom. This self-guided museum experience is recommended for older students and is available only after 11 am. Please allow 1 - 2 weeks advance notice when requesting self-guided tours. |
Call 508.799.4406 x3130 to discuss a particular focus or structure for your tour when making arrangements with Education Staff. Tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at 10 am, for one hour length unless otherwise requested. Guided tours are for groups of ten to eighty.
Please provide four weeks advanced notice for guided tour requests. For youth groups we ask that you provide one chaperone for every 5 preschoolers; 10 elementary students or 12-15 secondary students. Adults accompanying student groups are responsible for supervising the students at all times.