Museum Rules (PDF)

Guided tours of the Cincinnati Art Museum are most successful when students have prepared for their visit and arrive with questions, insight and enthusiasm.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is currently limited to seventy learners per tour. Please plan to arrive ten minutes before your scheduled tour time, as arriving late will result in a shortened tour. If you need to reschedule, please inform us as soon as possible. Our tour dates fill up fast, please look out more than a month in advance. However you are not guaranteed a specific tour date when booking a month out in advance.

All guided tours must be accompanied by at least one adult chaperone for every ten students. Prior to arriving at the museum, please divide into small groups with no more than fifteen students per group. Groups with 75 learners, please divide into small groups with no more than fifteen students per group. The number of groups must correspond to the number of Docents listed on your confirmation letter.

Groups over 100 students will be required to split their visit between a guided tour and self-guided time, requiring a 2-hour visit.

In order to have a distraction free tour, we ask that students and chaperones refrain from cell phone usage during tours.

To help facilitate interaction between the Docents and students, we encourage you to provide name tags for all students participating in your guided tour.

Some spaces in our classrooms and Marek Family Commons are available for groups to eat packed lunches, but this requires advanced notice. Groups may eat outside in Eden Park or at Seasonsgood Pavillion, weather permitting.

The Rosenthal Education Center is the museum’s interactive space for families to explore together. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to accommodate school groups at this time. For information about additional opportunities for students and teachers contact us at [email protected]

Cincinnati Art Museum tours may be scheduled by calling the Tour Coordinator at (513) 639-2975, Monday through Friday, or by submitting an online Tour Request Form. Tours must be scheduled at least six weeks in advance and are free of charge. The museum’s guidelines and other preparatory materials will be sent to you along with your tour confirmation.

Special Needs

The museum is wheelchair accessible. Tours are also available in French, German, and Spanish. Please indicate when scheduling whether your group has any special needs or requests.

School Tour Topics

Please see the list below for available School Tour Topics. All tours can be modified for the age and grade levels of your students. Also, if you do not see the tour that fits your curricular needs, please let us and we will work with you on new tour ideas and specialized themes.

The Cincinnati Art Museum offers a limited number of free buses annually through the Cincinnati Art Museum Bus for Kids Fund. Established by CAM volunteers in 2005, the goal of the fund is to provide school children free transportation to and from the museum thus giving them the opportunity to visit for guided tours.

Download ArtBus Brochure (PDF)

Do I Qualify?

To qualify, your school must be within the tri-state area, including applicable Northern Kentucky schools. Your school must have 25% or more of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. You must specify in your tour request if you wish to have an ArtBus for your school group and the request must be submitted 2 months before your tour date. The bus can only pick up you, your chaperones and your students and take them to the Cincinnati Art Museum and then back to your school. If your tour is already booked, the fund does not provide bus reimbursement.

How Do I Schedule?

• In your tour request, the second last question asks you, "Would you like to request an ArtBus?"
• In scheduling your tour, the tour coordinator will reach out to you to confirm your tour with the museum and confirm the information needed to book buses.
• The tour coordinator then reaches out to the bus company and receives confirmation if buses can be provided. If busing cannot be provided on your tour date, we can reschedule!
• Once we receive confirmation from the bus company your tour is officially booked and the tour coordinator will let you know.

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the tour coordinator to find out if you and your school qualify or if you have any other questions. Call 513-639-2975 or email [email protected].

Want to support the Art Bus for Kids program? Give today.

School groups must be accompanied by at least one adult chaperone for every ten students. Instructors and chaperones are responsible for students’ behavior at all times, including compliance with all Cincinnati Art Museum regulations. Chaperones are asked to remain with the group at all times, maintain orderly student conduct and assist Docents when needed.

Evaluate Your Tour

Additional Information

• Buses must drop-off students at the Perry Education Entrance in the back of the museum. Bus parking
  information is sent with every tour confirmation. See Directions and Parking
  for more information.
• Backpacks, umbrellas, bags and other large items are not permitted in the galleries. Please leave these items on the bus.
• Only pencils are permitted in the permanent exhibitions and no writing utensils are allowed in special exhibitions.
• The museum has facilities for eating packed lunches. We have cubbies available at the Perry Education Entrance to store food.
• In order to have a distraction free tour, we ask that students and chaperones refrain from cell phone usage during tours.

Self-guided school tours of the Cincinnati Art Museum can be scheduled by calling the Tour Coordinator at (513) 639-2975.

Teachers are wonderful museum guides! If planning to lead a self-guided tour, schedule the visit at least two weeks in advance by calling the Tour Coordinator. Limited space is available for self-guided groups of fifty or less students. To provide the optimal educational experience, Docent-guided groups will have priority in the galleries. Self-guided groups must follow museum regulations and are responsible for supplying one adult chaperone for every ten students.

Unscheduled self-guided groups will be admitted on a space-available basis. Please schedule your tour to avoid disappointment.

Looking for ideas for your self-guided visit? Download our Teacher & Chaperone Focus Guide to help prepare for your trip!

The CAM staff is also available to help you plan your visit. Contact the Associate Director of School-Based Learning at (513) 639-2974 or [email protected]

College and University Groups can schedule tours of the Cincinnati Art Museum by calling the Tour Coordinator at (513) 639-2975, Monday through Friday, or by submitting an online Tour Request Form. Tours must be scheduled at least six weeks in advance and are free of charge. Early scheduling is encouraged. The museum’s guidelines will be sent to you along with your tour confirmation.

Please plan to arrive ten minutes before your scheduled tour time, as arriving late will result in a shortened tour. If you need to reschedule, please inform us as soon as possible. Spring is a very busy time for tours, so consider fall and winter tours for ease in scheduling. Prior to arriving at the museum, please divide into small groups with no more than fifteen students per group. The number of groups must correspond to the number of Docents listed on your confirmation letter. In order to have a distraction free tour, we ask that students refrain from cell phone usage during tours.

You are also welcome to schedule a self-guided tour. These must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance by calling the Tour Coordinator. To provide the optimal educational experience, Docent-guided groups will have priority in the galleries. Self-guided groups must follow museum regulations.

Unscheduled self-guided groups will be admitted on a space-available basis. Please schedule your tour to avoid disappointment.

Perfect for first-time visitors and classes seeking a broad introduction to the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Our Signature Tours showcase the museum's world-class collection and invite students to explore art, culture, history, and storytelling through close looking and discussion. Popular themes include:

• Collection Highlights
• Cincinnati History and the Story of Art in Cincinnati
• Ancient Civilizations and Antiquities
• American Art

These tours are adaptable for a wide range of grade levels and curricular connections and feature some of the museum's most beloved objects and galleries.

Looking for something more tailored to your classroom goals?

Our tour team will work with you to design a customized experience that supports specific content areas, learning objectives, or cross-curricular themes. Rather than selecting from a fixed menu, teachers collaborate with our staff to create a tour that best meets their needs.

Examples may include:

• Foreign Language Tours (Spanish, French, German, and others as available)
• Elements and Principles of Art
• Science in Art
• Storytelling and Literature in Art
• Mythology and Symbolism
• Social Studies Connections
• Math in Art

Don't see your topic listed? We welcome new ideas and are happy to explore customized themes that connect with your curriculum.

For students grades 6–12
$150 per group

Extend your visit with Gallery2Studio, our guided art-making experience that follows a one-hour docent-led tour of a current exhibition.

For reservations, please email Alexa Ramirez, Manager of School Partnerships: [email protected]

After exploring original works of art in the galleries, students participate in a hands-on studio activity inspired by themes, techniques, or artists discussed during their tour. Gallery2Studio encourages creativity, critical thinking, and personal expression while helping students make meaningful connections between viewing and creating art.

Includes:

• One-hour guided gallery tour
• Facilitated original art-making experience
• Art materials provided