We invite you to expand your knowledge by exploring the world of art! We offer interactive, multidisciplinary programs for students in grades K – 12 that complement the Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools. Come explore with us!
Request a Student Group Visit or TourGuided Tours for Grades K-5
SOL-Based Permanent Collection Tours
Student tours of VMFA’s permanent collection are FREE and run 50 minutes each
Offered the following days and times:
Mon, noon
Tue – Fri, 10 am, 11 am, noon
Sat – Sun 11 am, noon
(Later times during the day may be available upon request.)
All tour capacities are based on docent and gallery availability.
Request a Student Group Visit or Tour
Please check out Pre and Post-visit materials that are available for your guided tour. These will help prepare your students for the theme of the tour as well as some of the objects they may see on the tour. We have lots of other resources available at www.vmfa-resources.org.
Guided Tour Topics
The Great Outdoors – Kindergarten
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: 60 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available.
Picture This! – Grade 1
See how artists have portrayed stories and historical events from the past to the present. Examine symbols and their meanings while viewing portraits, landscapes, sculptures, and more!Maximum: 60 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available soon!
China and Egypt – Grade 2
Explore the fascinating world of ancient Egypt and China! Examine the importance of writing, art, and artifacts used in daily life and beyond! Maximum: 40 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available.
Greece & Rome – Grade 3
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: 40 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available.
West African Kingdoms – Grade 3
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: 40 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available soon!
Greece, Rome, and Mali! – Grade 3
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: 60 students. Pre and post-visit materials available soon!
Very Virginia – Grade 4
Discover Virginia’s rich history through art! Students discuss important people, places, and things that reflect the significance of the Commonwealth. Maximum: 40 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available soon!
Voyage U.S.A. – Grade 5
What does freedom look like? On this tour students investigate how American artists have used their work to grapple with issues such as independence, the abolition of slavery, and women’s rights. Maximum: 40 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available soon!
Culture Cruise – Grade 5
Get your passports ready for this cruise around the world! Students visit North and South America, Europe, and India. Maximum: 60 students. Pre- and post-visit materials available soon!
Request a Student Group Visit or TourGuided Tours for Grades 6-12
Permanent Collection Tours
Student tours of VMFA’s permanent collection are FREE and run 50 minutes each
Offered the following days and times:
Mondays, noon
Tue – Fri 10 am, 11 am, noon
Sat – Sun 11 am, noon
(Later times during the day may be available upon request)
All tour capacities are based on docent and gallery availability
Request a Student Group Visit or Tour
Don’t forget to check out our NEW Educational Resource site: www.vmfa-resources.org
Guided Tour Topics
Student Highlights Tour – Grades 6 – 12
Learn about VMFA and its extensive collection of art! Students will see art that spans over 6,000 years of history and represents many different cultures. Maximum: 60 students
The Write Stuff – Grades 6 – 12
Turn your thoughts and impressions about works of art into similes, sensory reactions, haikus, and cinquains. It’s all about what YOU think on this poetic journey. Maximum: 40 students
Art History 101 – Grades 6 – 12
Students will explore art from ancient to contemporary times in order to expand geographical and international thinking, engage in historical knowledge, and compare and contrast cultural contexts. Maximum: 60 students
Reading a Work of Art – Grades 6 – 12
We can learn to read a visual image just as we read the printed word. Using keen observation skills and dynamic discussion, students will think critically about works of art with their newly acquired language of art. Maximum: 40 students
Request a Student Group Visit or TourGuided Tours for College Students
Permanent Collection Tours
All college student tours of VMFA’s permanent collection — guided and self-directed — are FREE.
Fees may apply for tours of the museum’s special exhibitions.
Reservations: Request a tour online or by phone 804.340.1419 (Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm) no less than three weeks in advance; tours subject to Docent and gallery availability.
Check out other VMFA College programs.
Request a Student Group Visit or Tour