Tips for successful inquiry on tours

  • Ask open-ended questions that encourage multiple responses. Scaffold and vary the types of questions through the tour.
  • Integrate opportunities on your tour for nonverbal participation.
  • Ask follow-up questions that encourage even closer looking, and invite individuals to support their observations with evidence.
  • Ask questions that are appropriate for the group (consider age, experience with looking at art, language skills, etc.).
  • Avoid run-on questions, or questions that ask more than one at a time (e.g., What kinds of colors do you notice and what shapes are in the painting?).
  • Avoid asking “yes or no” questions. These types of questions stop a discussion as soon as the responses are given.
  • Avoid asking questions that begin with “Can you…” or “Who can… ” These types of questions automatically set participants up to fail if they “cannot.”
  • Embrace moments of silence. Allow people time to observe, process, and respond.
  • Listen to responses and treat all responses as equal even if you think some are not the “right” answers. Remember that art has multiple interpretations.
  • Paraphrase when appropriate.
  • Practice using the phrase “Yes…AND…” (such as “yes, AND what else do you notice about the figure?) to validate a response and promote discussion.
  • If a comment or response is unclear, clarify by saying “Tell me more about that.”
  • Ask “Who haven’t we heard from?” or “Who hasn’t had a turn yet?” to encourage more participation.
  • Be flexible enough to let participants’ responses determine how the discussion of an artwork will unfold.