Experience VMFA as a group! Whether participating in a guided or self-directed experience, VMFA’s campus and galleries can inspire engaging conversations, thoughtful observations, and cultural connections.
VMFA opens daily at 10 am and entry is free. A minimum of 10 students is considered a group. We coordinate a range of Student Group Visits based on the audience: Pre-K Groups, K–12 Groups, and College Groups. We offer interactive, multidisciplinary SOL-based tours and resources for students, grades K-12; interactive exploratory tours and resources for Pre-K audiences; and we work with college groups to provide a range of experiences aimed at supporting their coursework.
For specific information on group visit offerings for each of these audiences, please select the appropriate tab below
- For Early Childhood Programs/Pre-K visit information, please use the Pre-K tab.
- For K–12 visit information, please use the K–12 tab.
- For College Group tour information, please use the College tab.
Resources
Visit our online Resource Center where students, educators, and families can find resources for classes, home, museum visits, and more!
Early Childhood Self-Directed Visits
Please let us know if you are planning to bring a group to the museum! In a self-directed visit, your group explores the museum and galleries on your own. Once you are aware of the date you will attend, please fill out the form below. Prior to your visit we will send guidelines to review with your groups, and resources to support classroom learning!
To schedule an Early Childhood Self-Directed Visit:
Submit an online Early Childhood Self-Directed Group Visit Request Form.
Pre-K Guided Group Visits
Pre-K Guided Group Visits provide young learners with a meaningful introduction to VMFA’s rich environment. Pre-K student’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder will guide them through an exploratory introduction, an interactive gallery tour, and a hands-on art project. Age-appropriate activities and sensory-focused experiences foster an early appreciation for art and self-expression while supporting classroom learning.
To schedule a Pre-K Guided Group Visit:
Submit an online Pre-K Guided Group Visit Request Form.
Program Information
- Designed for 4 and 5 year olds only.
- Available on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday mornings.
- The 90-minute visit runs from 10:30–12:00 pm.
- Payment for a minimum of 10 children is required per visit.
- A maximum of 18 children and 5 adult chaperones can be accommodated. One adult chaperone is required for every 5 students. You must receive approval to go over the 1:5
ratio for adults. - If you have more than 18 students or multiple classes wanting to come on the same day, select dates are available to accommodate two classes of up to 18 at the same time. Email liz.swerdlow@vmfa.museum with questions.
- The program fee is $10 per child. Adult chaperones are free. Scholarships available on a limited basis.
Themes
Each visit is centered on a theme that is designed to engage young learners and accommodate different learning styles.
1-2-3-4-5 Senses!
Activate all five of your senses as you explore VMFA’s campus and use tactile materials to make your own work of art to bring home.
You, Me, & Our Community
Explore identity, culture, and geography in art from around the world. Create an expressive portrait while discussing important figures in your community.
Shapely Sculptures
Make a masterpiece by mixing math with art. Search for shapes in paintings and sculptures, then learn how shapes add up to make a 3D creation.
Reservations
Scheduling for Pre-K Guided Group Visits for the school year begins in September and they are generally fully booked by January. Requests for a visit must be made in advance and are subject to availability.
To schedule a Pre-K Guided Group Visit:
Submit an online Pre-K Guided Group Visit Request Form.
Payments
Payment of $10 per child is to be made in advance, once a reservation has been confirmed. Program fees are nonrefundable for cancellations made within 24 hours of your scheduled visit. Scholarships are available on a limited time basis.
Lunch at VMFA
If your group would like to bring bag lunches and eat indoors, a lunchroom is available, on a limited basis, and must be reserved in advance. Once you have received a confirmation email that your museum visit has been booked, contact Special Events at (804)340-1590 or specialevents@vmfa.museum to reserve the lunchroom. Please note: Early Childhood Programs does not handle lunchroom reservations.
If the lunchroom is not available, please plan on enjoying your bag lunches outdoors in the Sculpture Garden grounds.
Questions?
For additional information, please review the Prepare for Your Pre-K Guided Group Visit or contact the Early Childhood Educator at (804)340-1509 or liz.swerdlow@vmfa.museum.
ONSITE PROGRAMS FOR K–12
All visit requests must be submitted at least three weeks in advance and are based on tour guide and/or gallery availability.
Fall 2023–Spring 2024
We will begin booking tours August 21, 2023. Tours run September 11 – May 19, excluding breaks and holidays. Tours are subject to Tour Guide availability. A minimum of 10 students is required for a guided tour.
K–12 Self-directed Visits
If you plan to bring more than 25 students, please break up into smaller groups of 25 or less and stagger your entry, with each group entering the museum one at a time. Groups should plan to rotate through the galleries.
To submit a visit request, please fill out our K–12 Permanent Collection Visit Request Form.
For questions, please contact us at tourservices@vmfa.museum.
TOUR OFFERINGS:
The Great Outdoors
Artists are keen observers of nature! Safari through ancient to modern galleries and investigate pictorial environments to find many unique plants, animals, birds and insects.
Maximum 45 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
Places and Faces
From past to present, artists have always captured a variety of people and places in their art, both real and imagined. Explore the galleries and discover some of the stories and characters that inspired these works.
Maximum 45 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
China and Egypt
Explore the fascinating world of ancient Egypt and China! Examine the importance of writing, art and artifacts used in daily life and beyond!
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
See the following resources: China and Egypt.
Greece and Rome
Discover the worlds of the ancient Greeks and Romans and the contributions they have made globally. Delve into the beginnings of the Olympic Games, daily life, pottery and rich mythology.
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
See the following resources: Greece and Rome.
Greece, Rome and Mali!
Cross Continents to explore three ancient and powerful cultures! Learn how geographical location and environment helped shape ways of life such as trade, culture and politics.
Maximum 45 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
See the following resources: Greece, Rome, and Mali.
A Taste of the Ancient World
Sample art from the ancient cultures of China, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Mali. Please note, this may only cover one object from each culture due to time limitations.
Maximum 60 students and 6 teachers/chaperones
See the following resources: Greece, Rome, Mali, China, and Egypt.
West African Kingdoms
Find evidence of power, wealth, family and symbols from several West African cultural groups. Travel ancient trade routes, discuss natural resources, and see the spectacle of royalty on this tour through our African galleries.
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
See the following resource: Mali.
Very Virginia
Discover Virginia’s rich history through art! Students will discuss important people, places and things that reflect the significance of the Commonwealth.
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
See the following resource: Very Virginia.
Voyage U.S.A.
What does freedom look like? On this tour students will investigate how American artists have used their work to grapple with issues such as independence, the abolition of slavery, and women’s rights.
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
Student Highlights Tour
Learn about VMFA and its extensive collection of art! Students will see art that spans over 6000 years of history and represents many different cultures.
Maximum 60 students and 6 teachers/chaperones
Sketch It!
No sketching experience? No problem! Join this facilitated gallery experience as you examine works of art through sketching exercises. Through various prompts, students will hone observation skills, generate and communicate ideas, and reflect on what they are seeing.
Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
NOTE: this program lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes (available at 10 am and noon based on tour guide and gallery availability). The success of this experience is based on student participation. Please prepare your students for sketching and an open dialogue.
The VMFA Experience
Engage with works of art in a new way in the galleries! Facilitated by a tour guide, students will participate in a series of activities that will lead to observation, critical thinking, discussion and discovery! This gallery experience is guided by student reflection, group work, and imagination.
Grades 3-12, Maximum 30 students and 5 teachers/chaperones
NOTE: this program lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes (available at 10 am and noon based on tour guide and gallery availability). The success of this experience is based on student participation. Please prepare your students for sketching and an open dialogue.
Group Visit Guidelines
Please read through these guidelines and share them with your students and chaperones prior to your visit:
- Items such as backpacks, coats, packed lunches and umbrellas may be stored in the student coat room. The student coatroom is located straight down the hall from the Student Group Entrance, on the right past the Start Space and across from the glass doors of the Education Center studios (follow signage).
- When visiting the gift shop, we ask that you enter one group at a time. No more than 10 students per group, and each group must be accompanied by at least one chaperone.
- We require at least 1 adult chaperone per 10 students.
- Non-flash photography is allowed.
- Please do not touch the art and keep a distance of at least 12 inches between you and any art objects.
- Pens and colored pencils are not allowed in the galleries. Please use No. 2 pencils only.
- The lunchroom may be booked in advance, based on availability. Up to 40 people can use the lunchroom at one time. Once you have received a confirmation email that your museum visit has been booked, please contact Special Events at (804)340-1590 or specialevents@vmfa.museum to check on reserving the lunchroom. If the lunchroom is not available, please plan on having your bag lunches outdoors in the sculpture garden. Tour Services does not book the lunchroom.
- Bag lunches may be enjoyed outdoors in the sculpture garden.
- Best Café:
- The menu includes a rotating selection of family-friendly options including sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, a selection of pastries, and more. Vegan and gluten free options are available.
- For groups of 20 or more, please call (804)340-1576 or email foodservice@vmfa.museum to provide 24 hours’ notice.
- If you plan to eat inside Best Café, boxed lunches are available to purchase in advance for groups of 20 or more guests. Boxed lunches typically include a sandwich, bag of chips, cookie, and beverage. Prices vary depending upon your needs. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call the Café Manager at (804)340-1576 or email foodservice@vmfa.museum to order boxed lunches for your group. Tour Services does not process these requests.
ONSITE PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE
Permanent Collection: Guided
College groups may request tours from both the student and adult tour page. We also offer tours of specific galleries. All guided tours visit requests need to be submitted to tourservcies@vmfa.museum at least 3 weeks in advance and are based on Tour Guide and gallery availability. Please see the notes below for visit guidelines.
Special Exhibitions: Both Guided and Self-Directed
Special Exhibition tickets may be booked at the student rate. Guided tours for our Special exhibitions are free for degree earning students. Guided tours require at least a three-week notice, are limited to no more than 30 students per hour, and are based on Tour Guide and gallery availability. Please see the note below for guidelines.
Permanent Collection: Self-Directed Visit
All permanent collection self-directed visit requests need to be submitted to tourservices@vmfa.museum at least 3 weeks in advance. Please see below for our self-directed visit Guidelines.
To submit a visit request, please fill out our College Group Request Form.
Self-Directed Group Visit Guidelines
- No bag lunches will be allowed inside the Museum. You are welcome to enjoy bag lunches outdoors in the sculpture garden. Social distancing is required on Museum grounds.
- Visit the Best Café page for information on purchasing food items to eat in the Café.
- Click here to view our VMFA policies. Please review the policies prior to booking your visit.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE
Thematic Resource Packets (For Grades -12 & College)
Bring VMFA to your students with these short, thematic online resources. Based on a single, broad theme, these virtual offerings are neatly packaged resources that align with a variety of SOL objectives. By inviting students to observe & discuss specific objects in the collection, these resources encourage creative and critical thinking.
- Leadership – What does leadership look like? What does it mean to be a leader? In this resource, students will explore various objects from different world cultures in the VMFA collection that deal with this important theme. Through examining different portrayals of leadership, students will make observations, articulate what they see, and learn from different perspectives.
- Portraits – What is a portrait and what can it communicate? Can they tell us about the person depicted and the society they came from? Can a portrait show someone’s personality or values? By examining many different portraits throughout the museum’s collection, students will use visual analysis to describe a portrait and make connections between personal experiences and a work of art.
- Economics – What can art tell us about the economy? By exploring scenes featuring themes of goods & services, consumption, natural & capital resources, labor, poverty, wealth and more, students will develop thinking skills that include analyzing real-life situations, economic reasoning, decision making and problem-solving.
It will take two weeks (10 business days) for us to process your request, record the response, and provide you with a link to the video.
VMFA Student Memberships
If any of your students have VMFA student memberships, please provide us with a list of student names and membership numbers. This information can be sent via email to tourservices@vmfa.museum after submitting your request. We can then update your invoice accordingly.
For information about purchasing VMFA student memberships, please visit the membership page and select the Students tab.
You can also contact the Membership Department directly at membership@vmfa.museum, or (804) 340-1420.
* Tour Services does not handle student membership requests.