Bring your class to the Vancouver Art Gallery for a guided exploration of art and ideas.
Led by the Gallery’s education staff, School Tours and Workshops encourage students to look closely, ask questions, share perspectives and make connections between art and the world around them.
Choose from guided exhibition tours or tour and workshop experiences that combine close looking and discussion with hands-on creative learning. Programs are designed for elementary and secondary school groups and can be adapted to different ages and learning needs.
The Gallery’s Fall/Winter 2026–27 School Programs will run from September 22, 2026 to February 18, 2027.
Group Size and Booking
School Tours and Workshops take place Monday to Thursday at 9:30 to 11:30 AM and 12:15 to 2:15 PM. School Tours without Workshops take place Monday to Thursday at 10:45 to 11:45 AM and 1:30 to 2:30 PM.
School Programs accommodate a maximum of 30 students and up to 6 adult chaperones at no additional cost.
All programs require advance payment to secure your booking. If you cancel within 14 days of your program date, your booking fee is non-refundable.
Teacher Study Guides
Every tour includes a comprehensive Teacher Study Guide with background information about the artist(s) and exhibition your class will explore, along with pre- and post-tour activities.
We strongly recommend using the Teacher Study Guide to prepare your group for their visit. Access the Teacher Study Guides here »
Registration
Mark your calendars! Registration for the Gallery’s Fall/Winter 2026–27 School Programs will open on Wednesday, September 9 at 3:30 PM.
Space is limited, and sessions fill up quickly, so we encourage you to book early to secure your preferred date and program.
Program Details
Tour + Workshop
Offered Monday–Thursday at
9:30 AM and 12:15 PM
Grades: 2–12
Price: $250
Duration: 2 hours
Tour Only
Offered Monday–Thursday at
10:45 AM and 1:30 PM
Grades: 2–12
Price: $125
Duration: 1 hour
Virtual Tour
Flexible scheduling is available upon request
Grades: 1–12
Price: $150
Duration: 1 hour
Fall/Winter 2026–27 Program Schedule:
Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change
September 22, 2026 to January 7, 2027
Available for Grades 2–12
Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change brings together artists from around the world who explore our relationship with the Earth and imagine possible futures for our planet. Through a variety of artworks, the exhibition considers nature, climate change, sustainability and the lasting effects of the choices we make today. Students will experience sculpture, painting, photography, video and installation works made from materials as diverse as plastic lawn chairs, tobacco leaves, cell phones and recycled Amazon boxes. Future Geographies promises to ask more questions than it answers about the environment and our place in it.
Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes, 1948–78
January 12 to February 18, 2027
Available for Grades 2–12
Presenting approximately 100 works—in painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography, drawing and architectural documentation—Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes, 1948–78 brings a contemporary lens to this important period of experimentation and innovation in Iran. Students will explore how Iranian artists created a unique form of modernism that addressed the tension between commitments to innovate and an engagement with traditional Iranian ideas and cultural forms.
Through activities and interventions, students will be introduced to the rich, bold works of visionary artists who were at the forefront of contemporary art.
Before You Visit
Please review the following guidelines to help prepare your group for their visit:
- Prepare your group: It is essential to prepare your students using available Teacher Study Guides, which include background information and activities related to the exhibitions. Access Teacher Study Guides here »
- Check in: When you arrive, please check in at the Admissions Desk in the Gallery Lobby.
- Store belongings: Lockers will be available in the Lobby for students’ belongings.
- Stay with your group: Adult chaperones must accompany students at all times during your visit.
Getting Here
The Vancouver Art Gallery is located at 750 Hornby Street in downtown Vancouver.
By car: Underground parking is available nearby at the Robson Square parking lot at Howe and Nelson Streets. Follow the underground signs to the blue UBC area. Additional parking is available at the parkade at Howe and Georgia Streets.
By SkyTrain: The closest stations are Granville and Burrard on the Expo Line, and Vancouver City Centre on the Canada Line.
By bus: The Gallery is accessible by several bus routes, with stops within a short walk. For current routes and schedules, please visit TransLink and use 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver as your destination.
By school bus: If you’re arriving by school or charter bus, please contact the Gallery in advance for information about drop-off and pick-up locations.
Venue Accessibility
The Vancouver Art Gallery is wheelchair accessible. Street-level access is available through the Hornby and Robson Street entrances, open during all public hours.
If you have any questions or specific accessibility needs for your group, please discuss them with our team when booking your visit.
Thank you to our School Program sponsors.
Generous Support:
Jessica Yan Macintosh and George Macintosh
Foundation Partners:
