At The Museum
Phoenix Art Museum believes one of its primary functions is to make art accessible and fun to school children of all ages. We offer a variety of outreach programs to accommodate educators with unique needs and constraints, from school visits, to Museum tours, to supplementing classroom resources.
School Membership Program
For annual dues of just $75, individual students and their families, faculty or staff members of your school (K-12) may enjoy free general admission* to Phoenix Art Museum. Your school receives a General Membership card in the name of the school. Students, faculty or staff members may check out the card from a designated school official for their individual use. The Membership Card admits two adults and up to four of children or grandchildren age 17 or under. One of the visitors must be employed by or attend the school named on the card.
* Some limits apply.
For application click here, or contact the Membership Office at (602) 257-2124 or membership@phxart.org
School Tours
Tours are aligned with Arizona Department of Education Standards in the visual arts and related curriculum areas where appropriate. Most tours are based on the Museum’s extensive collection. Educators may also schedule tours of temporary exhibitions; click here to view upcoming exhibition schedule. All tours require 5 weeks advance notice and are subject to the relevant admission charges.
Docent Led Tours
Tours are led by volunteers (docents) trained to speak knowledgeably about objects in the Museum’s collection in ways appropriate for the age of those in your group. Classes will be divided into groups of 12-15. Required chaperone to student ratio is 1:10 for grades K-3, 1:15 for grades 4-12.
Click here for a complete list of tours categorized by grade level
Self-Guided Visits
Phoenix Art Museum welcomes educators to self-guide groups in ways that benefit their students while accommodating the presence of guided tours and the general public. Please click here to see our requirements.
Research Library
The Museum has a Research library to support learning about art in general and the Museum’s collection in particular. Materials are non-circulating, but may be used in the library reading room. The library catalogue is searchable through the Phoenix Public Library Website; items are annotated as “At Phoenix Art Museum.” Call the Museum at (602)257-1880 for library hours.
Art Masterpiece Program
The Art Masterpiece Program trains school-based volunteers in tools and techniques to teach elementary-level students about the visual arts. Most participants are classroom volunteers at a child’s school who augment presentation of the visual arts on a regular basis. The Training Program covers basics of looking at and discussing art objects, an overview of art history, resources for materials and ideas, modeling of classroom presentations and activities, and Museum orientation.
Please check back soon for details of our 2009 program.
In the meantime, you can download the Training Manual for FREE. Click here.
At Your Site
Phoenix Art Museum Docents (volunteers) will bring the visual arts to your classroom. Programs require 5 weeks advance notice and are subject to availability of appropriate visual resources. Programs at your school are offered without charge, but are available only in the Phoenix metro area. Presentations require an electrical outlet and a room that can be darkened.
Visual Presentations
Museum Docents offer one-hour illustrated presentations to help your students prepare for a Museum visit or to complement your classroom curriculum. Popular topics include Ancient Greece and Rome; The Middle Ages and Renaissance; Art of Asia; Math in Art.
ArtSmart
Museum Docents present a program including an illustrated talk and an art project. Choose from Picturing Arizona (4th grade) or Burial Art of the Ancient Egyptians (6th grade). The program lasts 60 minutes and is limited to 30 students at a time. You provide a classroom with a sink and we bring the rest.
ArtSmart and Visual Presentation are presented free of charge.
Docents will travel only to sites within the Phoenix metro area.
Classroom Resources
Check back often for recently added curriculum resources for download or projection.
FAQs
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.