School Tours
Free for all New Hampshire schools!
School tours focus on empowering students to use their voices, develop an investigative process with fine art, foster empathy, (re)discover the museum and make it their own. Tour themes are interdisciplinary and socially interactive. Museum educators work closely with teachers to make art accessible for every student.
Art Essentials Tour
Adaptable to all age groups, this tour explores the fundamental elements of art through student driven, interactive dialogue that embraces a multilingual approach. Students develop visual literacy skills by learning to identify and describe artists' choices, draw comparisons between different works of art, and make connections to their own lives.
The docent-led, one hour Art Essentials Tour is $50 per group of 10 students, with 2 adults. Up to 4 additional students per group, and additional adults are $5 per person - free for all New Hampshire schools.
Please plan 75 minutes at the Currier for a 60-minute tour. Groups are encouraged to spend additional chaperone-accompanied time in the galleries for an up to 2-hour visit.
The current school tour structure allows for up to 80 students per visit. Half the students spend 45 to 60 minutes on docent-led tours, followed or preceded by structured time with chaperones in the galleries. For sketching, clipboards and pencils are available; please include this request in the Additional Information text box on the tour request form. Art activities are not being offered at the museum.
Self-Guided Gallery Time
School and youth groups are welcome to book group-time in the galleries. They may explore the museum in smaller groups of up to 10 students and need to be accompanied by 2 adults. For self-guided gallery time, you may use a Currier designed worksheet. Please check with us what is available.
Self-guided gallery time is $30 for up to 20 students - free for all New Hampshire schools.
Click below to complete your tour request form.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
School tours and group gallery time need to be booked at least one month ahead of the tour date, by submitting the tour reservation form. You will then receive a confirmation letter, containing all the details of your visit.
In case of unexpected school closures, please notify us as soon as possible at 603.518.4956 or call the Guest Service Desk at 603.518.4908.
All grade levels at all New Hampshire schools receive Cost-free and Accessible School Tours.
Cost-free and Accessible School Tours are generously supported by Lincoln Financial Foundation, the Nashua Arts Fund for Nashua schools, and the Currier’s Tomie dePaola Art Education Fund.
Frank Lloyd Wright House Tour (grade 9 and up)
Frank Lloyd Wright school group tours can be booked for high school and higher education groups of up to 10 students and 1 faculty member, at a time. They follow the same format and time line as a public tour, and cannot be changed for school groups. Due to their setting in a residential neighborhood, the tour of the houses is only accessible by Currier van. The visits take 2 hours, begin and end at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St, Manchester, New Hampshire, 03104).
Frank Lloyd Wright school group tours do NOT qualify for Cost-free and Accessible School Tours or for a transportation scholarship through the Yellow Bus Fund.
The 2024 Frank Lloyd Wright tour season ends December 29, 2024. The 2025 tour season is scheduled to begin in mid-April 2025.
For more information and to fill in a booking request form, please see the Frank Lloyd Wright page, or call 603.518.4956.
Lunch Considerations
The Currier does not have the space for school groups to eat lunch indoors. During the warmer season, school groups may have lunch outside. The Zachos Court, in front of the main entrance, offers picnic tables and chairs on the lawn, weather permitting.
In the event of inclement weather, the museum is not able to offer lunch space inside. The Winter Garden Café is not available to School and Youth groups.
Transportation Support
Yellow Bus Fund
K-12 public school groups in New Hampshire may apply for a transportation scholarship to the Yellow Bus Fund.
The Currier’s Yellow Bus Fund covers the cost of bus transportation for your field trip. Schools are responsible for scheduling their own transportation, and for submitting bus invoices to the Currier Museum of Art within 30 days of visiting. The bus scholarship will be paid directly to the bus company.
To apply, note “Yellow Bus Fund” under Additional Information on the tour request form. You will receive an application letter once a visit date with the Currier is confirmed. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and is subject to availability.
The Yellow Bus Fund is generously supported by the Avis M. Nye Trust and the Currier’s Tomie dePaola Art Education Fund.
For questions or more information, contact tours@currier.org.
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