Teachers and Students
School Programs
The Vancouver Art Gallery School Programs provide exhibition tours and workshops designed for elementary and secondary school groups. These programs introduce tools to foster visual literacy in students and to promote critical thinking about the world around us.
Led by the Gallery’s experienced and highly trained Docents, guided school tours are a great way to learn more about the cultural and social contexts of the artworks on display.
For the 2021/22 school year, the Gallery’s Virtual School Programs will begin in October 2021. Registration will open in September. We plan to resume on-site programming in January 2022. If you would like to book a virtual School Tour, please contact Susan Rome, School Programs Coordinator, at srome@vanartgallery.bc.ca with your preferred date and time.
Virtual School Tours
This fall we are booking virtual School Tours for a minimum of 10 individual classes per elementary school. Please check with your PAC to see if they can help provide funding for all classes to participate. Secondary classes can book on an individual basis. Online sessions will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 and 11 AM from October 5 to December 9, 2021. Cost is $150 per one-hour session. If you would like to book a virtual School Tour, please contact Susan Rome, School Programs Coordinator, at srome@vanartgallery.bc.ca with your preferred date and time.
- Cost | $150
- Grades | ALL
- Capacity | 30
Self-Guided Visits
The Self-Guided Visit consists of a class navigating any open exhibition space in the gallery. Open to elementary, secondary and post-secondary school groups. Please check-in at the Admissions Desk when you arrive. Lockable bins will be provided for students' belongings at coat check. If you are bringing several classes of 30 students, please book as many arrival times as you need. For all booking inquiries, please contact Susan Rome at srome@vanartgallery.bc.ca.
- Cost | $85
- Grades | All
- Capacity | 30
Post-Secondary Guided Tour
Guided tours are an excellent educational experience for post secondary students. The Gallery's rotating exhibitions of historical and contemporary art provide unique opportunities to enhance a range of studies from fashion, visual art, art history, graphic design, history, visual culture and architecture, among many others. For all booking inquiries, please contact Stephanie Bokenfohr at sbokenfohr@vanartgallery.bc.ca.
- Cost | $245
- Grades | Post-Secondary
- Capacity | 30
TEACHER ORIENTATIONS
Teacher Orientations have been postponed until further notice. Please check back for more details. Questions? Contact Susan Rome, School Programs Coordinator at srome@vanartgallery.bc.ca.
- Cost | Complimentary
- Grades | All
- Capacity | 50+
Teachers Support
To help you get ready for your tour and help your students get the most out of their experience, we offer study guides and teacher orientations for many of our exhibitions
Jan Wade: Soul Power
GALLERY GUIDELINES
We are delighted that you will be visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery. Please review the following guidelines before your visit:
- We require a minimum of 1 adult per 8 students.
- A maximum of 8 adult chaperones will be admitted free of charge. (Please notify all chaperones that we can not accommodate toddlers on the tours.)
- Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your session. Check in at the Admissions desk located in the lobby.
- Please bring name tags with each student’s name clearly identified.
- We regret that bagged lunches can not be eaten inside the Gallery or in the Gallery Bistro. There is covered seating outside the Robson Court area.
- There is underground parking nearby in the Robson Square parking lot at Howe and Nelson St. as well as in the Pacific Centre mall parkade at Howe and Georgia St.
- From the Skytrain, on the Expo Line both Granville and Burrard stations are in close proximity. From the Canada Line the City Centre stop is nearest.
- We require two weeks advance notice for cancellations, otherwise the full amount will be charged.
For more information on arrivals, parking, check-in, way-finding, please review the Guidelines document.
REPEAT VISIT DISCOUNT
The Vancouver Art Gallery believes that children’s learning is enhanced by repeated engagements. We offer special rates to encourage this: if the same class is returning for a second or third visit in the same a school year, fees are reduced.
During your online booking process, please declare if this is your first, second or third visit, or the discount may not be applied. These rates apply ONLY to the same class of students during a given school year.
Accessibility
The Vancouver Art Gallery is committed to accessibility and offers reduced program fees for inner-city schools. For more information about rates for inner-city schools, please contact Susan Rome, School Programs Coordinator by email or by phone at 604.662.4700 ext. 2308.
Contact
For more information or if you have questions about School Tours please contact the Group Bookings Coordinator by email or by phone at 604.662.4717.
Sheldon Gilmour Foundation
The Edith Lando Charitable Foundation