The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
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How to Schedule a Tour

Call at least four weeks in advance, Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and tell us:
  1. Date and time
  2. Alternate date and time
  3. Number in group
  4. School or organization
  5. Subject
  6. Teacher or group leader
  7. Teacher's school and home telephone numbers
  8. Address of school or organization
  9. Special requests

We'll let you know how to prepare your group and how to borrow a new pre-tour videotape when you call to book a tour. You will receive written confirmation of your reservation three weeks before your tour date, and your docent will call you about one week prior to your tour to discuss your group's needs.

Please divide your students into groups of 15 before you arrive. One adult chaperone is required for every 15 students during the tour. Chaperones should not bring preschool children.


Group Tours
Volunteer docents lead tours for 15 or more. Most tours last about one hour. Tours fill quickly, so call early. Best bets are fall and winter. (Many of our spring tours are completely booked by late fall.) All tours are free, except writing tours and workshops.

Please call:


Pre-Tour Videos
We highly recommend that you show one of our videos that help prepare students for their museum visit. Call 870-3134 to reserve. There is a $3.50 charge for postage.

Your Trip to the Art Museum, an eight-minute video, features school groups on tours, works of art, and lively animation and music. It tells your students what a museum is, models appropriate behavior, and excites them about their upcoming visit. Recommended for grades 1-6.

Welcome to the MIA, a seven-minute video, prepares secondary students for their museum visit. It includes footage of selected artworks, school groups on tour, small groups of students on their own, and lively animation and music. The video shows your students what a museum is, models appropriate behavior, and lets them know what to expect on their upcoming visit. Recommended for grades 7-12.


Teacher Tours
Tours of special exhibitions and the permanent collection are offered at 4:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month during the school year. All tours are free. Call (612) 870-3140 for information and reservations.

After your tour, Laura Pereira, our curriculum materials specialist, will be available, by appointment, to show you the materials we offer for classroom use.


Students with Special Needs
One-on-one tours allow students with visual impairments to experience art through touch. Tours can also be interpreted for students with hearing impairments. Small-group tours are available for visitors needing wheelchairs. Request all these tours at least four weeks in advance.


Teacher-Led Visits
Students must be accompanied by an adult at all times (1 adult per 10 students). No more than 90 students admitted per hour. Call 870-3140 for information and reservations. For ideas, ask about these free materials:

Art Appreciation (grades 7-12)
The Elements of Art (grades K-3)
News Team (grades 4-8)
Planning an Exhibition (grades 4-6)
Scavenger Hunts (grades K-3, 4-6, 7-12)

Teacher Workshops for Teacher-Led Visits
Attend a workshop to help you lead your students through the museum. Preview classroom materials to prepare your students for the visit, get ideas on how to focus your time in the museum, and learn how to talk with your students about works of art. Call (612) 870-3140 for further information and dates. $10 fee per person.
Main Menu ~ Educational Programs ~ Curriculum Materials ~ Teaching the Arts Catalog ~ Art Adventure Program ~ Classroom Materials ~ Materials for Sale