Types of Museum Tours

General Tour:
This tour features selections from the permanent collection and from special exhibitions. We also discuss how art museums work as well as provide specific information on the University Art Museum. This tour generally lasts 50 minutes to one hour, but the tour length can be adjusted to accommodate your schedule.

Young at Art:
Designed for preschool and lower elementary students, this tour makes the museum experience accessible to young children. Students are helped to relate to the art by using games and exercises. The length of the tour is adjusted to age and ability to concentrate.

Write On (Writing Tour):
The "Write On!" tour begins with an abbreviated tour of the museum and guided discussions of select pieces of art. After the guided tour, the students are given the opportunity to respond in writing to a piece of art which they will select from one of our galleries. Designed with KERA objectives in mind, the writing tours introduce students to different ways to write about art and challenge them to express their views on art in an intelligent manner. The writing tour lasts 90 minutes, and, due to the involved nature of the tour, we ask that the group size be limited to no more than 30 students.

Make Your Own Masterpiece (Drawing Tour):
Like the writing tour, "Make Your Own Masterpiece" begins with a brief tour of the museum’s collection and special exhibitions. During the tour, the docents emphasize the basic elements of art. The students are then given the opportunity to create their own work of art based on an artwork of their choice. This tour encourages the students to creatively express their ideas using existing art as a reference. The drawing tour lasts 90 minutes, and, due to the involved nature of the tour, we ask that the group size be limited to no more than 30 students.

Hidden Treasure Tour:
A "choose your own adventure" in the art museum. Contact the Education Department about designing a tour specifically for your group.

Adult Tour:
These tours will provide an adult audience with an in-depth look at the works of art on display at the art museum. Adult tours for groups can be arranged by contacting the Education Department.

Pre-Visit Activities
To prepare students for a meaningful visit to the University Art Museum, teachers are sent a pre-visit packet including an outline of what to expect on your museum tour. A 30 minute slide talk introducing students to the museum and the works of art they will see here, presented by museum staff and docents, is available to a limited number of classes in the Fayette County area. If this is of interest to you, please indicate this on your tour request.

Art Talks
Art talks bring a learning experience to you and your students in the classroom. A member of the museum’s education staff or Docent volunteer can present a slide talk in your classroom, bringing images, ideas and thought-provoking questions to your students.
Talks, usually lasting 30-45 minutes, are offered in the following subject areas:

• Art Inspires Art: Kentucky Quilts
• American Visions: American Art
• African Art: Empasis on West Africa
• Introduction to Art: lower and upper elementary versions
• Native American Art
• Pre-Columbian Art

Art Talks can also be tailored to meet specific needs or interests. Please contact the Teacher Outreach Coordinator, Sonja Brooks at 859-257-1926 or at sonjabrooks@uky.edu to schedule an Art Talk.

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