All school groups from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are welcome. Please note, however, that all groups must have a reservation for either a docent-led (guided) or teacher-led (self-guided) tour.

Paul Gauguin. Day of the God (Mahana no Atua), 1894. Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection.

How do I schedule my student group?
We've made it easier for you to apply for a museum visit with our new online tour application. Select the date range in which you would like to search, the grade level, number of students, and tour type, and you will be presented with all of the available tours that meet your criteria. Select the date and tour that suits your needs, fill in the necessary application information, and submit your request. You should receive a response from the Division of Student Programs in three to five business days either confirming your tour or notifying you that you will need to select another date.

Applications are accepted for the 2007–08 school year beginning August 13, 2007. Applications for summer 2008 are accepted beginning May 1, 2008. You may apply for a tour no more than six months before the date you plan to visit.

Do you offer tours in the summer?
Two guided tours, ABCs of Art and a Museum Introduction, are offered Monday through Friday, June 23 to August 1, at 10:30 only. Summer guided tours are one hour unless otherwise noted. Self-guided groups are admitted seven days a week year-round with a confirmation from the Division of Student Programs, which determines entry times and dates.

What is a docent?
A docent (dough-sent) is a volunteer gallery educator trained to work interactively with students to investigate works of art. Prior to your tour, your docent will call you to find out more about your students and discuss the content of the tour.

How will I be notified if my application has been accepted?
A tour confirmation or a notification that we are unable to accommodate your group will be e-mailed three to five business days after receipt of your application.

When are tours offered?
Self-guided tours are permitted seven days a week, year-round, with a confirmation from the Division of Student Programs, which determines entry times and dates. All Guided tours are offered Monday–Saturday, October 1–May 30, at 10:00, 10:30, 11:30 and noon. Tours are one hour unless otherwise noted. Note: There is greater availability for noon tours. Preference is given to docent-led tours in scheduling and gallery use, but self-guided tours must begin after 11:00.

Can my group eat lunch at the museum?
During the school year (the first Monday of October through the first Friday in June), the Art Institute has sack-lunch room space. You must mark this option on the tour application. All lunches must be brought in completely disposable bags and containers. Leftover food, drinks, bags and containers will not be allowed back into the museum after lunch. We regret that the sack-lunch space is not available June-September.

Students can purchase a cafeteria-style lunch in the Cafe during the school year and summer. To do so, you must mark this option on your application. The menu consists of various sandwiches, salads, pizza, and daily specials for $6-$9. Sack lunches ARE NOT permitted in the Cafe.

How many students and chaperones can I bring to the museum?
Group Size: The minimum number of students for a docent-led tour is 15. The maximum for a docent-led or teacher-led tour is 90 students, unless otherwise noted on the guided tour description page.

Chaperones: For grades pre-K through kindergarten, one chaperone is required for every four students. For grades 1–2, one chaperone is required for every six students. For grades three and up, the museum requires one chaperone for every ten students. Only the requisite number of chaperones may join the tour; extra adults may meet the group after the completion of the tour. Chaperones are responsible for the students' conduct and compliance with museum policies. Failure to comply will result in the group being asked to leave the museum.

How much will our tour cost?
There is no charge for Illinois school groups that have received a confirmation from the Student Programs Division. The State of Illinois subsidizes the museum in order to offer free admission to Illinois students.

Non-Illinois School groups
Out-of-state groups with written confirmations pay $5 per student. There is no charge for teachers and for the required number of chaperones. Extra adults must pay the full admission of $12 each and may not join the tour. Payment must be rendered in advance of your visit. NEW! Teachers may pay by credit card through the secure payment portal on our Web site. Your credit card will be charged when your application is submitted. Teachers may also pay by check. Payments by check must be received a minimum of 14 days prior to the tour date. Make sure to include a copy of your confirmation with your check. Groups that arrive without paying in advance, or arrive with more students or adults than indicated at the time of reservation, will be subject to the full admission cost upon arrival of $7 per student and $12 per adult.

Check Payment should be sent to:
Student Programs Division
c/o Student Tours
Department of Museum Education
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603-6110

Please be aware: Any Illinois or out-of-state group that does not have a written confirmation must pay the full admission of $7 per student and $12 per adult. The policy of admitting children under 12 for free does not apply to groups.

Free days: The museum is free to all on Thursday evenings between 5:00 and 8:00 and every day February 1-21.

What if I need to cancel my tour?
To avoid cancellations, check your school's calendar for test dates, holidays, report card pick-up days, special activities, etc., before scheduling your tour. If you must cancel a tour, call (312) 443-3679 immediately. Guided tours are in high demand. Once confirmation has been sent, we are unable to reschedule guided tours for any reason. Once a confirmation has been sent and payment is received, refunds are not given. Groups that arrive at the museum with fewer people than were paid for at the time of reservation cannot be refunded the difference.

Where do we enter the museum?
School groups enter through the museum's east entrance on Columbus Drive. Due to space limitations, groups are not permitted to enter at the Michigan Avenue entrance. Bus drop off is accessed from southbound Columbus Drive. Please allow extra time for travel in the downtown Chicago area.

Where can our bus park?
Upon receipt of your confirmation, it is imperative that you schedule buses for your museum visit to avoid canceling your tour. The museum does not have bus parking facilities. Buses may park at the Soldier Field lot for a fee, one mile south on Lake Shore Drive.

How do I prepare my class for our visit to the museum?
How do I prepare my class for our visit to the museum?
During the school year, all school groups in grades 6-12 should view the orientation video See for Yourself: A Day at the Art Institute. This video introduces the museum and its collection, and explains important rules that groups are responsible for understanding and adhering to during their visit. Teachers have the option of receiving a DVD version of See for Yourself or viewing the video online. To receive a DVD in the mail, indicate this on your application: it will arrive three to four weeks prior to your visit. To view the video online, follow the Web link on your e-mail confirmation.

DVDs are not sent to groups visiting June–September.

You will also receive a copy of the museum's rules and regulations with your confirmation. Discuss them in advance with your students and chaperones to ensure a quality visit for your students and other museum visitors.

Teachers can also:
Attend a teacher program.
Use materials from the Elizabeth Stone Robson Teacher Resource Center.
Read the teacher workbook Journey into Art (available in the Museum Shop only).
Download a museum lesson plan.
Download the museum's floor plan.

What accommodations are there for students with disabilities?
When making a reservation, please request a copy of "Museum Access," the Art Institute's guide for traveling through the museum by wheelchair, and indicate your need for any other specialized information or assistance for your students. See the accessibility page for additional information about how the museum accommodates individuals with physical impairments.