Photo: Daniel Perales
School Tours at Sarasota Art Museum
Bring your students for a Museum visit, free of charge!
Sarasota Art Museum’s school tour program is designed to integrate visual art into the classroom and enhance student literacy, critical thinking, observation, and communication skills through museum visits, classroom resources, and art making. School tours introduce students to original works of contemporary art, a range of media and processes, and related vocabulary to broaden students’ understanding of artistic concepts, increase comprehension of visual vocabulary, develop art-making skills, and build student self-confidence and communication skills.
School Tour Details
Guided tours with workshops last about 90 minutes and are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 12 pm.
Self-guided visits can be as long as you’d like and are offered any day of the week, beginning at 10 am. One adult chaperone per 10 students is required.
Chaperones receive free admission and must remain with their group for the entire visit.
School Tour Availability
Guided tours are free for school groups. Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance. Guided tours include a 45-minute tour portion led by a Museum Guide and a 45-minute hands-on art-making experience led by one of our Teaching Artists. Guided tours take around 90 minutes. *If you do not have 90 minutes to spend exploring the museum with us, a shortened hour-long version of the tour is available. Please note this when scheduling your tour.
Self-guided tours are free for school groups, with registration made at least two weeks in advance. We invite you to explore the Museum on the day of your choosing and at your own pace. Self-guided tours can be as long as you’d like! Take a deep dive and spend the day on campus visiting our galleries, SHOP, and Bistro, or pop-in to check out your favorite pieces with your students.
School Tour Options
CREATION LAB (K-12) Tour + Workshop (10 am to 12 pm tour, Tuesdays ONLY)
Observe, discuss, and connect! Contemporary artists often use unconventional methods, media, and messages that push the boundaries of traditional art forms. In our Creation Labs, your students will learn to look at and appreciate the art of our time. Join us for a conversational tour and an interactive art-making studio workshop. If you prefer to just take a tour, we are happy to accommodate your group.
Embracing Our Differences Make-A-Day-Of-It! (10 am OR 11 am tour, Thursdays ONLY)
January 18 – March 10, 2023
Don’t miss this year’s Embracing Our Differences exhibition on view in the Bayfront Park between January 18th, 2022, and March 10th, 2023. Make-A-Day-Of-It! And visit the Sarasota Art Museum for a tour of the Museum’s current exhibitions before or after your Embracing Our Differences experience. These tours will be given on Thursdays of every week for the duration of Make-A-Day-Of-It.
We welcome you to explore the Museum on your own as well! We have resources available and activities to do both at the Museum and at home to supplement your visit.
How to Book Your School Tour
For more information, contact Group Services at 941-309-4300 or email: Groups@SarasotaArtMuseum.orgcreate new email (Monday through Friday between 10 am and 5 pm) or submit your booking form below.
School Tour Guidelines
For more information about what to expect and what to know before you go, download our comprehensive School Tour Guidelines below.
Lunch Options
If you would like to order lunch from the Museum’s Bistro, please contact Carolyn James, Catering Manager, at Carolyn.James@ConstellationCulinary.comcreate new email