Pre-Visit Information for Schools

Booking a student tour:

We offer free tours of our Permanent Collection and Temporary Exhibitions for students of all ages. Student tours must be booked in advance by contacting the NGCI Education Department. We require at least one week’s notice to book standard school tours, and at least two weeks’ notice if your group has special requests (e.g. custom tours, transportation assistance, additional art activity). Once you’ve decided on the type of tour you’d like, you can request a tour by completing this form. We will review your request and follow up by email. Please note that school tours are NOT confirmed until a Gallery representative sends an official confirmation via email.

Group size

We can comfortably accommodate 25 students and 5 chaperones per group. If your group is larger than this, we can try and accommodate this and may suggest alternate arrangements.

Chaperones

We request that visiting student groups bring at least one adult chaperone for every 10 children. Accompanying adults are encouraged to participate in the tour and promote respectful student behaviour. Please keep cell phone use to a minimum and turn phones on silent. Chaperones may not bring additional children or infants to attend the visit.

Transportation assistance

We can assist with transportation on an as-needed basis. Please specify your request for transportation when booking your tour.

Your Gallery visit

All sessions take place in the Exhibition Hall and are led by Gallery educators. Their aim is to help you and your students engage and respond to the exhibition(s) and to enhance their learning in relation to a range of curriculum topics through engagement with the art on display. Your students will be asked questions and provided with learning activities during the tour.

Studio art activity

Art activities are optional additions to the tour and are designed to complement and reinforce the themes covered during the tour. Art activities cost $5.00 per child and take place in our Susan A. Olde Art Studio. Please note that we do not offer standalone art classes for visiting student groups; if you would like to rent the studio for a private class please contact events@nationalgallery.org.ky.

Cancellations

If you must cancel your visit, please telephone us on (345) 945-8111 as soon as you can. Please provide at least 24 hours notice.

Late and early arrivals

If you are delayed, please telephone us on (345) 945-8111. If you arrive late, your Gallery educator may not be able to offer you the full session. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes before the time your session is due to start; when you arrive please notify our receptionist and have your group look around the garden until the time of your scheduled tour.

Use of facilities

If your group brings lunch, they can sit at the tables along the breezeway and/or the back deck. There is a water cooler in the self-serve Art Café, in addition to snacks and hot beverages available for purchase. Students are welcome to explore the gardens and labyrinth before or after their session under the supervision of chaperones; please note that the statues in the gardens must be treated with the same respect given to the artworks inside the Gallery. Restrooms are located in the Education Centre.

Gift shop

The Gallery gift shop is located by the reception desk in the Gallery with a wide selection of art equipment, gifts, stationery and books. Please ensure that pupils are always supervised in our shop.

Behavior Guidelines for Student Visitors

• Listen respectfully to your Gallery educator(s) and each other.
• Experience the art by looking, not by touching.
• Walk carefully in the Gallery.
• Use your inside voice when in the Gallery and Art Studio.