School Tours and Student Films
The Walker offers interactive gallery and garden tours for students in grades K–12 and screenings of selected films for students in grades 6–12. Scroll down for information on requesting a tour or student film screening.
Art Today: Tour Themes
Engage your students with contemporary art at the Walker. Interactive K–12 tour themes highlight connections between visual arts, social studies, media arts, and language arts.
Tour Topics Designed for Visual Arts Classes:
Elements and Principles of Contemporary Art (grades K–12)
Starting with the basic elements of visual art, such as line, shape, color, and texture, the tour explores concepts such as appropriation, time, space, and hybridity in the work of contemporary artists.
Media, Materials, and Meaning (grades K–12)
This tour looks at the myriad, often unconventional ways in which artists have reshaped and challenged traditional forms and techniques of painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking.
So, Why Is This Art? (grades 6–12)
Using works in the galleries to inspire thought and discussion, tour participants investigate questions such as: What is art? Should art be beautiful? Is art an object or a process? Should art be realistic? Can art change society?
Architecture for Art (grades 4–12)
These tours introduce students to the expanded Walker Art Center through an in-depth exploration of its new spaces and the processes used by the architects for designing the new building.
Tour Topics Designed for Social Studies and Media Art Classes:
Visual Culture (grades K–12)
What is “visual culture”? How do artists reuse, remake, and transform it in their work? Tour participants explore these questions as they view work from the 1960s Pop Art movement to the present that is inspired by the worlds of media and consumer culture.
Living in Our Time (grades K–12)
What does it mean to live in our time? This basic yet complex question is explored through the work of contemporary artists who address social and cultural themes ranging from personal identity to challenging issues of our world today.
Tour Topics Designed for Language Arts Classes:
Writing through Art (grades 4–12)
Contemporary art is used as a catalyst for student writing. The Writing through Art tours can incorporate descriptive writing, critical essays, stories and narratives, or poetry. Select one type of writing or schedule multiple visits to experience all four. Students receive a free journal to use during their visit and to take back to the classroom. Writing through Art School partnerships—including four museum visits, classroom activities, and parent events—can be arranged. Call 612.375.7614 for more information.
Art Today: Hands-on Learning
Add more excitement to your tour by scheduling a hands-on activity in the Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab. Students roll up their sleeves and experiment with media, techniques, and concepts of contemporary art in projects linked to Art Today and special exhibition tours.
Art Today: Films for Students (Recommended for grades 6-12)
Animation Innovation
This hour-long program of short films traces the lively history and creative experiments of pre-pixel film animators from the 1920s to the 1990s. Selections are from the Walker’s Edmond R. Ruben Film and Video Study Collection. Teachers can arrange screenings for groups of 30 – 300 students with four weeks advance notice Tuesday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm. Program notes and a viewing activity are included.
Tour Programs for Visitors with Disabilities
The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are accessible to everyone, with a variety of tour options and services available. If members of your group have physical or developmental disabilities, please notify us in advance so that accommodations can be arranged.
Signed Tours (American Sign Language)
Signed tours of the Walker and the Garden may be planned to suit your group’s interests.
Touch Tours
One-on-one touch tours of selected works in the galleries and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are offered for visitors with visual impairment. Gloves and touchable scale models are provided.
Request a Tour
Step 1: Plan ahead!
We require at least four weeks advance notice for guided tours and two weeks advance notice for self-guided visits. Tours book quickly for popular exhibitions and spring visits. Please have several choices in mind for your tour date.
More Information
Hours:
K-12 Guided Tours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 am - 5 pm. Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 5 pm.
K-12 Self Guided Visits: Tuesday through Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.
The Walker is closed Mondays.
Tour Length:
Guided tours for students in grades 2–12 last one hour. K–1 tours are 45 minutes long. Art Lab tours last two hours for students in grades 2–12. Art Lab tours for grades K–1 are 90 minutes long. We suggest that self-guided group visits last approximately one hour.
Numbers:
Guided tours can be scheduled for groups of 10–90 students, subject to availability. Self-guided visits can be scheduled for 10 – 60 students, subject to availability. One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. Chaperones are admitted free of charge.
Step 2: Pick a Tour Theme
Select from Art Today tour descriptions (see above), special exhibitions, or ask about a customized tour. Consider adding an art lab activity to your tour. Teachers can preview Walker exhibitions before visiting with their students by calling 612.375.7614 for free passes.
Step 3: Submit your Request
Complete and submit the online tour scheduling form or e-mail your request to education.resources@walkerart.org. Please include all required information. You will be contacted by the Walker Tours office to confirm your request. Please note that your tour request is not confirmed until you hear back from us.
Step 4: Arrange for Payment
Payment may be made by check or credit card and is due in full at least one week before the date of the tour. No refunds will be given for fewer participants or cancellations.
Tour Prices
Gallery Tours:
K–12 guided and self-guided groups: $3 per student
Writing through Art Tour: $4 per student
Tour with Art Lab: $6 per student
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Tours:
K–12 guided groups: $3 per student
Tour with Art Lab: $6 per student
Self-guided group visits: Free
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Student Film Screening: $1 per student
Film plus Gallery Tour or Self-Guided Visit: $4 per student
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Tour Guide Bus Fund:
Schools scheduling guided tours of the Walker or Minneapolis Sculpture Garden may apply for bus transportation support through the Walker Art Center Tour Guide Bus Fund. Applications are taken in October for winter/spring tours and in April for the following fall. Download the application (PDF) or contact education.resources@walkerart.org for details.
Step 5: Pre-tour Checklist
—Review the information sent in your tour confirmation packet. Contact us immediately if you must make any changes. Please note that we generally cannot increase the number of students once a tour is booked.
—Plan pre- and post-tour activities by selecting from the print or online resources. For more information on slide or CD sets, activity kits, and videos, go to Classroom Materials. For online resources, visit the Art Today Web site or ArtsConnectEd.
—You will be contacted by the volunteer tour guide assigned to your group to touch base about the details of your tour. Talk with him/her about any special needs you may have and the tour theme or topic you have requested.
—If you are planning a self-guided visit, prepare an activity or discussion questions for your students. For suggestions, call 612.375.7614.
—Divide your class in advance into groups of 10–15 students. Arrange for one adult chaperone for each group. Make name tags for your students.
—Review the expectations and guidelines for your visit with your students. Share the guidelines with adult chaperones so they understand their role during the tour.
—Directions to the Walker and parking information are in your confirmation packet.
—Meet your tour guide or check in at the desk in the Bazinet Garden Lobby. Enjoy your visit to the Walker Art Center!
Art Today: Tour Themes
Engage your students with contemporary art at the Walker. Interactive K–12 tour themes highlight connections between visual arts, social studies, media arts, and language arts.
Tour Topics Designed for Visual Arts Classes:
Elements and Principles of Contemporary Art (grades K–12)
Starting with the basic elements of visual art, such as line, shape, color, and texture, the tour explores concepts such as appropriation, time, space, and hybridity in the work of contemporary artists.
Media, Materials, and Meaning (grades K–12)
This tour looks at the myriad, often unconventional ways in which artists have reshaped and challenged traditional forms and techniques of painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking.
So, Why Is This Art? (grades 6–12)
Using works in the galleries to inspire thought and discussion, tour participants investigate questions such as: What is art? Should art be beautiful? Is art an object or a process? Should art be realistic? Can art change society?
Architecture for Art (grades 4–12)
These tours introduce students to the expanded Walker Art Center through an in-depth exploration of its new spaces and the processes used by the architects for designing the new building.
Tour Topics Designed for Social Studies and Media Art Classes:
Visual Culture (grades K–12)
What is “visual culture”? How do artists reuse, remake, and transform it in their work? Tour participants explore these questions as they view work from the 1960s Pop Art movement to the present that is inspired by the worlds of media and consumer culture.
Living in Our Time (grades K–12)
What does it mean to live in our time? This basic yet complex question is explored through the work of contemporary artists who address social and cultural themes ranging from personal identity to challenging issues of our world today.
Tour Topics Designed for Language Arts Classes:
Writing through Art (grades 4–12)
Contemporary art is used as a catalyst for student writing. The Writing through Art tours can incorporate descriptive writing, critical essays, stories and narratives, or poetry. Select one type of writing or schedule multiple visits to experience all four. Students receive a free journal to use during their visit and to take back to the classroom. Writing through Art School partnerships—including four museum visits, classroom activities, and parent events—can be arranged. Call 612.375.7614 for more information.
Art Today: Hands-on Learning
Add more excitement to your tour by scheduling a hands-on activity in the Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab. Students roll up their sleeves and experiment with media, techniques, and concepts of contemporary art in projects linked to Art Today and special exhibition tours.
Art Today: Films for Students (Recommended for grades 6-12)
Animation Innovation
This hour-long program of short films traces the lively history and creative experiments of pre-pixel film animators from the 1920s to the 1990s. Selections are from the Walker’s Edmond R. Ruben Film and Video Study Collection. Teachers can arrange screenings for groups of 30 – 300 students with four weeks advance notice Tuesday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm. Program notes and a viewing activity are included.
Tour Programs for Visitors with Disabilities
The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are accessible to everyone, with a variety of tour options and services available. If members of your group have physical or developmental disabilities, please notify us in advance so that accommodations can be arranged.
Signed Tours (American Sign Language)
Signed tours of the Walker and the Garden may be planned to suit your group’s interests.
Touch Tours
One-on-one touch tours of selected works in the galleries and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are offered for visitors with visual impairment. Gloves and touchable scale models are provided.
Request a Tour
Step 1: Plan ahead!
We require at least four weeks advance notice for guided tours and two weeks advance notice for self-guided visits. Tours book quickly for popular exhibitions and spring visits. Please have several choices in mind for your tour date.
More Information
Hours:
K-12 Guided Tours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 am - 5 pm. Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 5 pm.
K-12 Self Guided Visits: Tuesday through Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.
The Walker is closed Mondays.
Tour Length:
Guided tours for students in grades 2–12 last one hour. K–1 tours are 45 minutes long. Art Lab tours last two hours for students in grades 2–12. Art Lab tours for grades K–1 are 90 minutes long. We suggest that self-guided group visits last approximately one hour.
Numbers:
Guided tours can be scheduled for groups of 10–90 students, subject to availability. Self-guided visits can be scheduled for 10 – 60 students, subject to availability. One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. Chaperones are admitted free of charge.
Step 2: Pick a Tour Theme
Select from Art Today tour descriptions (see above), special exhibitions, or ask about a customized tour. Consider adding an art lab activity to your tour. Teachers can preview Walker exhibitions before visiting with their students by calling 612.375.7614 for free passes.
Step 3: Submit your Request
Complete and submit the online tour scheduling form or e-mail your request to education.resources@walkerart.org. Please include all required information. You will be contacted by the Walker Tours office to confirm your request. Please note that your tour request is not confirmed until you hear back from us.
Step 4: Arrange for Payment
Payment may be made by check or credit card and is due in full at least one week before the date of the tour. No refunds will be given for fewer participants or cancellations.
Tour Prices
Gallery Tours:
K–12 guided and self-guided groups: $3 per student
Writing through Art Tour: $4 per student
Tour with Art Lab: $6 per student
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Tours:
K–12 guided groups: $3 per student
Tour with Art Lab: $6 per student
Self-guided group visits: Free
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Student Film Screening: $1 per student
Film plus Gallery Tour or Self-Guided Visit: $4 per student
To qualify for these special school rates, groups must schedule in advance. Schools designated more than 60% free or reduced lunch qualify for discounted or waived fees.
Tour Guide Bus Fund:
Schools scheduling guided tours of the Walker or Minneapolis Sculpture Garden may apply for bus transportation support through the Walker Art Center Tour Guide Bus Fund. Applications are taken in October for winter/spring tours and in April for the following fall. Download the application (PDF) or contact education.resources@walkerart.org for details.
Step 5: Pre-tour Checklist
—Review the information sent in your tour confirmation packet. Contact us immediately if you must make any changes. Please note that we generally cannot increase the number of students once a tour is booked.
—Plan pre- and post-tour activities by selecting from the print or online resources. For more information on slide or CD sets, activity kits, and videos, go to Classroom Materials. For online resources, visit the Art Today Web site or ArtsConnectEd.
—You will be contacted by the volunteer tour guide assigned to your group to touch base about the details of your tour. Talk with him/her about any special needs you may have and the tour theme or topic you have requested.
—If you are planning a self-guided visit, prepare an activity or discussion questions for your students. For suggestions, call 612.375.7614.
—Divide your class in advance into groups of 10–15 students. Arrange for one adult chaperone for each group. Make name tags for your students.
—Review the expectations and guidelines for your visit with your students. Share the guidelines with adult chaperones so they understand their role during the tour.
—Directions to the Walker and parking information are in your confirmation packet.
—Meet your tour guide or check in at the desk in the Bazinet Garden Lobby. Enjoy your visit to the Walker Art Center!
Global Lens Student Matinees
This May, the Walker Art Center in partnership with the Global Film Initiative, presents three feature films from Lebanon, the Philippines, and Iran that connect students with social studies, foreign language and media arts curricula and provide deeper engagement with contemporary film, cultural perspectives, and world events. Now in its fifth year, the Global Film Initiative supports filmmakers from some of the world’s most impoverished corners, and its public face, Global Lens, is one of the United States’ most lauded touring festivals of international film.
Three films have been specially selected for high school groups for their vivid portrayals or their home cultures and the potential of the stories to carry universal human appeal. Morning screenings are free and limited to 300 students. Curriculum guides and preview DVDs areavailable to teachers prior to the screening. Reservations can be made through the Education Department at 612.375.7609.
If the scheduled screening times don’t work for your class, free on-demand screenings for high school students of 30 or more can also be arranged May 7-18 through the Education Department.
The Kite (Le Cerf-Volant)
Directed by Randa Chahal Sabbag
Lebanon
Free student screening: Thursday, May 15, 9:30 am
The border between Lebanon and Israel, captured in stunning cinematography, frames the story of a young Lebanese bride lamenting her impending arranged marriage to an equally reticent groom living on the other side of the checkpoint. Tensions rise when she confesses her love for another—a man who is seen as a political enemy to her family. 2003, in Arabic with English subtitles, 80 minutes.
The Bet Collector (Kubrador)
Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian
The Philippines
Free Student Screening: Wednesday, May 14, 9:30 am
A family matriarch makes ends meet by running a small convenience store out of her home. But customers are scarce in a struggling economy, and without the help of her husband or pregnant daughter, she is forced to supplement the family income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game. In this stark, realistic narrative, director Jeffrey Jeturian presents a captivating portrait of a once-proud woman haunted by memories of a dead son and hounded by the police, and her fragile and lonely life as a bet collector on the streets of Manila. 2006, in Tagalog with English subtitles, 98 minutes.
The Fish Fall in Love (Mahiha Ashegh Mishavand)
Directed by Ali Raffi
Iran
Free Student Screening: Friday, May 16, 9:30 am
Loosely based on the Persian tale of Shahrazad mixed with A Thousand and One Nights, first time director Ali Raffi’s film is a rich banquet of food and love set on the southern coast of Iran. Locals flock to Atieh’s thriving restaurant for her extravagant dishes. When a former lover appears after a 20-year absence with the intention of closing the restaurant, Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to convince him otherwise. 2006, in Farsi with English subtitles, 96 minutes.
Three films have been specially selected for high school groups for their vivid portrayals or their home cultures and the potential of the stories to carry universal human appeal. Morning screenings are free and limited to 300 students. Curriculum guides and preview DVDs areavailable to teachers prior to the screening. Reservations can be made through the Education Department at 612.375.7609.
If the scheduled screening times don’t work for your class, free on-demand screenings for high school students of 30 or more can also be arranged May 7-18 through the Education Department.
The Kite (Le Cerf-Volant)
Directed by Randa Chahal Sabbag
Lebanon
Free student screening: Thursday, May 15, 9:30 am
The border between Lebanon and Israel, captured in stunning cinematography, frames the story of a young Lebanese bride lamenting her impending arranged marriage to an equally reticent groom living on the other side of the checkpoint. Tensions rise when she confesses her love for another—a man who is seen as a political enemy to her family. 2003, in Arabic with English subtitles, 80 minutes.
The Bet Collector (Kubrador)
Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian
The Philippines
Free Student Screening: Wednesday, May 14, 9:30 am
A family matriarch makes ends meet by running a small convenience store out of her home. But customers are scarce in a struggling economy, and without the help of her husband or pregnant daughter, she is forced to supplement the family income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game. In this stark, realistic narrative, director Jeffrey Jeturian presents a captivating portrait of a once-proud woman haunted by memories of a dead son and hounded by the police, and her fragile and lonely life as a bet collector on the streets of Manila. 2006, in Tagalog with English subtitles, 98 minutes.
The Fish Fall in Love (Mahiha Ashegh Mishavand)
Directed by Ali Raffi
Iran
Free Student Screening: Friday, May 16, 9:30 am
Loosely based on the Persian tale of Shahrazad mixed with A Thousand and One Nights, first time director Ali Raffi’s film is a rich banquet of food and love set on the southern coast of Iran. Locals flock to Atieh’s thriving restaurant for her extravagant dishes. When a former lover appears after a 20-year absence with the intention of closing the restaurant, Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to convince him otherwise. 2006, in Farsi with English subtitles, 96 minutes.
Education Resources Online
schools.walkerart.org offers Walker Art Center services and resources to schools and teachers. Click on the tabs to find out what you need to know for attending events for teachers, planning tours, using classroom resources, and learning more about upcoming exhibitions. Receive quarterly e-mail updates by sending your e-mail address to mailing.list@walkerart.org with the words “teacher email” in the subject line.
Tour Guide Bus Fund
Schools may apply for bus transpor-
tation support through the Walker Art Center Tour Guide Bus Fund. Applications are taken in October for winter/spring tours and in April for the following fall. Click here to download an application form or contact education.resources@walkerart.org for details.
tation support through the Walker Art Center Tour Guide Bus Fund. Applications are taken in October for winter/spring tours and in April for the following fall. Click here to download an application form or contact education.resources@walkerart.org for details.
Walker Members Access More
Educators save $5 on Individual, Dual/Household, or Friend-level memberships to the Walker. Benefits include free gallery admission, shop and dining discounts, and savings on event tickets. To join, call 612.375.7600 or visit membership.walkerart.org.
ArtsConnectEd is your online resource for interdisciplinary teaching and learning through the arts. This exciting Internet-based gateway offers teachers, students, and parents access to the combined collections and resources of the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
