School Tours

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about School Tours

1. How do I register for school tours?
You can register for a school tour by using the online Tour Request Form found on the Gallery's web site. Alternatively, you may mail or fax a printer-friendly version of the form.

Tours must be scheduled four weeks in advance. Requests for tours in fall 2009 will be accepted from August 1 through November 14, 2009. Requests for tours in winter and spring 2010 will be accepted from December 1, 2009 through May 1, 2010.

2. How many students can I bring on a school tour?
School tour groups must contain at least ten students. Please check the tour description for the maximum number of students your chosen tour can accommodate.

3. How many chaperones should I have per student on a school tour?
Tour groups must be accompanied by one adult chaperone for every ten students.

4. How will I know when my tour has been scheduled?
You will hear from us within seven business days regarding your tour request. You will receive a written confirmation once your tour has been scheduled.

5. What should I do if I have not yet received my confirmation letter?
Our staff scheduler is available to answer questions about tours on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. (September through May). Please contact Jennifer Cross at (202) 842-6249 or schooltourrequests@nga.gov.

6. What should I do if I need to cancel my scheduled tour?
To cancel your tour, please call Jennifer Cross at (202) 842-6249 at least seven days before your tour date so that your slot may be made available to others.

7. Does the Gallery provide pre-visit materials for school tours?
Pre-visit materials are available online for some tours; see program descriptions.

8. What can I expect my students to do on a school tour?
School tours include in-depth exploration and discussion at four to six tour stops. Trained volunteer docents encourage careful observation, foster an open exchange of ideas, and cultivate connections between art and life. They facilitate tours utilizing a variety of teaching strategies, which may include sketching, creative writing, and group activities that meet the needs and interests of a diverse range of learners.

9. Where should I meet the docent for my school tour?
The following tours meet in the East Building Atrium:

• Artists' Choices
• Art Tales: Matthew's Dream
• Color, Line, and Shape
• Exploring the Elements of Art
• Exploring Modern Art: Breaking the Rules
• Exploring Modern Art: Materials and Techniques

The following tours meet in the West Building Rotunda:

• American Art
• Art Tales: Little Cloud
• Children in Art
• Christmas Story
• Every Picture Tells A Story
• French- and Spanish-Language Tours
• Mythology
• Nature in Art
• Portraits and Personalities
• Renaissance Art
• Sculpture and Sketching
• Spanish Art
• Stories from the Hebrew Bible

For special-topic tours, please consult with your lead docent on the start location for your tour.

10. Where can the buses park?
Buses may let students off at the entrance noted on your confirmation letter. Parking for buses is usually allowed only on Independence Avenue near the Washington Monument.

11. Where can I park if I drive to the Gallery?
There are two-hour metered parking spaces on 3rd and 4th Streets as well as three-hour parking on Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive.

12. Are there wheelchairs available?
Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at all entrances.