Tours

Guided tours for all age groups are available year-round and can be scheduled almost any day of the week and any time of the day. All tours are centered on the visitors’ direct experience of the artwork and museum staff takes great pride in customizing each tour to fit the particular needs and interests of each group. Tours can easily include hands-on activities developed around the Museum’s current exhibitions. Tours can be as small as ten people and as large as 120. Groups are also welcome to participate in our other educational programs, such as readings, lectures, demonstrations, and workshops.
For information on reduced admission for large groups download our motorcoach information sheet.



Comprehensive Tour

(ideal for pre-schoolers, children, teens, motorcoach groups, home school groups, multi-age groups, and adults)
Lasting about two hours, groups will explore 2-3 exhibits. Adult and youth get a chance to discuss artworks in small groups, children are led through activities and games to help them observe the art closely. The group will also do a related activity in art-making, music, or storytelling. The tours are created and led by museum staff and professional artists. We take pride in offering lively programs that are engaging and age appropriate. The cost is $7 per person, usually with a minimum of 10 participants. (We do not charge adult chaperones of student groups.) *Financial Aid is available.
Some examples of past tours are:

• Middle school students compared modern art quilts to traditional quilts and learned basic percussive dance moves and history of American folk dance.

• Preschoolers worked with a storyteller in conjuction with an exhibit of surrealist oil paintings.

• A hip-hop artist discussed the origins of that art form and high school students then compared it to Mexican political illustrations from the 1800’s.

• Local educators explored how artists use their traditions as a springboard for new work in an exhibit of indigenous contemporary Maori work and the compositions of violinist Diane Monroe.

Simple Tour

Groups explore one or two exhibits, adult and youth get a chance to discuss artworks in small groups and children are led through simple activities and games to help them observe the art closely. Tours last 30 - 45 minutes. The cost is $5 per person, usually with a minimum of 10 participants. (We do not charge adult chaperones of school groups.) *Financial Aid is available. Tours are guided by museum staff with trained volunteers.

Although general admission is free to all on Wednesdays, we do not offer free tours on Wednesdays. We can easily give tours before the Museum opens to the public (on Mondays and before 11am weekdays). We can also give tours on evenings and weekends but minimum fees may apply.

To book a tour call the Museum at (814) 459-5477 and speak with Kelly Armor or email Kelly at folkart@erieartmuseum.org