School and Group Visits

Introduce your students to the transformative power of the arts during a CMA Group Visit!

Group Visits are led by professional Teaching Artists, and the visit experience is tailored to your group’s age range or grade level.

Visits include:
— An inquiry-based gallery tour of our current exhibition
— A hands-on art-making workshop in one of our art studios

Curriculum for Group Visits supports Common Core State Standards, NYC DOE’s Blueprint Standards for Teaching and Learning in the Visual Arts and the Moving Image, Framework for 21st Century Learning, and Universal Design for Learning.

Click here to book your visit!

Join our Learning Leaders Network!

CMA’s new Learning Leaders Network connects PreK-12th grade education professionals to arts engagement resources and events. This free member network includes monthly e-blasts and opportunities for professional development, civic engagement initiatives, special museum visits, and more. Click here to register!

School Year

Workshop Options

FINE ARTS (K-12):

Grades Pre-K & K:

LOOK: Teaching artists will lead students through a inquiry-based gallery tour, including sensory experiences, to introduce Early Learners to museums for the first time.
MAKE: Your group will then head into the studio to create artwork inspired by the exhibition. The workshop encourages observation, exploration, and creative thinking. Students are encouraged to self-regulate through individual projects and practice important social skills while visiting a community art space.
SHARE: At the end of your visit, your group will have a chance to share what they have created with one another!

Grades 1-12:

LOOK: Visits begin with an inquiry-based gallery tour, where young artists will observe and learn from the contemporary artwork in our current exhibition. Teaching Artists will engage students through interactive discussion, active observation, and tactile material.
MAKE: Your group will then head over to the art studio to make artwork inspired by the current exhibition using conventional and unconventional art materials. Students will create curated hands-on projects, which encourage problem-solving skills and individual expression.
SHARE: At the end of your visit, your group will share and celebrate what they have created with one another!

MEDIA ARTS (2nd-12th):

LOOK: Our visits begin with an inquiry-based gallery tour, where our young artists will have an opportunity to look at the contemporary artwork in our current exhibition. Teaching Artists will engage students through interactive discussion, active observation, and tactile material.
MAKE: Your group will then head over to the studio to make artwork inspired by the exhibition. In a Media Arts visit, students will explore storytelling and technical skills through stop-motion animation. Students will work together in small groups to create short film clips which will be edited together and emailed to visiting teachers 1 week after your visit. Workshops include curated hands-on projects, which encourage creative problem-solving skills and individual expression.
SHARE: At the end of your visit, your group will share and celebrate what they have created with one another!

To see a sample animation made by students, click here!

ACCESSIBLE ARTS (Special Needs Groups or D75 Schools, Pre-K-12):

Students will participate in an accessible arts experience with contemporary art in the gallery and mixed media projects in the Fine Arts Studio or Media Lab. If you are interested in an Accessible Arts visit, please share information about your group on your online booking request form and contact Rachel at rmarino@cmany.org to discuss how we can best meet the needs of your group.

Scheduling & Fees

DAYS: Tuesday-Friday, subject to availability

Visits during holidays or school breaks are extremely limited. Group visits are not offered on weekends.

Group Visits are offered at the following times:

Fine Arts
10:15am-11:30am
11:30am-12:45pm

Media Arts
10:30am-12:15pm

FEES:

FINE ARTS: $200
Includes tour of gallery spaces, workshop, and all materials
1 – 30 students and 4 free adults
Additional adults can join for $13/person

MEDIA ARTS: $250
Includes tour of gallery spaces, workshop, and all materials
1 – 30 students and 4 free adults
Additional adults can join us for $13/person

ACCESSIBLE ARTS: $150
Fine Arts or Media Arts visits for Special Needs Programs and D75 Schools
Includes tour of Gallery & Bridge exhibition spaces, workshop, and all materials
1 – 15 students and all supporting adults

PAYMENT: Payment is due by arrival on the day of your visit. Payment methods accepted:

– Credit card via phone or Paypal Invoice
– Mailed check
– Card/Cash/Check upon arrival
– DOE Purchase Order

Make a Reservation

CMA is excited to partner with Explorable Places to make booking group visits easier for teachers and group leaders. Please click here to book your visit!

Visit and Cancellation Policies

ADDRESS: 103 Charlton Street (between Hudson and Greenwich Avenues). There is bus parking on Greenwich Street directly around the corner of the museum. Please make sure your bus driver is going to this address to avoid any confusion with other children’s museums. Please ask your bus driver to be back at the museum for pick up at the end time of your visit.

ARRIVAL: Please send one adult staff member or chaperone to the Lobby Desk to check in your group. To avoid any confusion, the rest of your group must wait on board your bus/outside the museum until the check-in procedure is completed and a museum staff member has greeted you. Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your visit. If you book groups at different times on one day, please stagger your arrival and pickup times. Due to space constraints, we cannot accommodate waiting groups.

RESTROOMS: CMA has five individual restrooms off our main gallery. We recommend using the restroom before or during your visit, as groups must exit the museum at the end of their visit.

LATE ARRIVAL: If you are running late, please contact us at 212-274-0986. Your visit only takes place during your scheduled visit time. Late groups will have a shorter visit.

LUNCH: Students are not permitted to eat lunch at the museum. Students are welcome to visit James J. Walker Park, which is within walking distance from the museum (approximately three blocks). There are no indoor facilities for groups to eat at CMA.

CANCELLATION POLICY: We require at least 10 business days (two weeks) notice for any changes to your visit. If you need to cancel or change your visit, please contact the School Programs team as soon as possible to reschedule. If you wish to cancel your visit less than 10 days in advance or your group doesn’t arrive for your visit, you will be billed for the full amount listed on your invoice. Please make sure to confirm your visit with your administration and request a DOE bus at least 2 weeks before your trip.

PAYMENT: Payment is due by arrival on the day of your visit. Payment methods accepted:

Credit card via phone or Paypal Invoice
Mailed check
Card/Cash/Check upon arrival
DOE Purchase Order

Scholarship Visits

Title 1 Scholarship Visits:
If your school qualifies as Title 1, you may apply for our Title 1 Scholarship, which invites 1 group (up to 30 students) to visit CMA free of charge. We offer a limited number of scholarships per year, so we recommend applying early. Please note this scholarship can be awarded to 1 group per school per school year.

To apply, please mark your Title 1 status on your booking request and answer the related questions. You will be notified about your Title 1 Scholarship via email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Booking and Scheduling

How do I book a group visit?

CMA is excited to partner with Explorable Places to make booking group visits easier for teachers and group leaders! All visits must be reserved on Explorable Places. We are unable to reserve visits over the phone or through email.

How far in advance should I book my visit to CMA?

Schools are encouraged to book their visits to CMA at least 1 month in advance. (Reminder: DOE buses require reservations at least 2 weeks in advance). Schools applying for a Title 1 Scholarship are encouraged to submit their request as early as possible, as we offer a limited number of scholarships per year.

Can I bring a group during public hours?

No. Due to our size, we are not able to accommodate groups during regular museum hours. Your group will have the best experience if they visit CMA in a Group Visit (and it’s usually more affordable, too!)

Can I book a visit on a holiday or during school breaks?

Visits on holidays or over school breaks are very limited and spots fill up quickly. All Group Visit availability will be shown on our Explorable Places calendar. CMA offers group visits over summer vacation.

Do you offer group visits on weekends?

Due to public hours and other programs, CMA does not offer group visits on weekends.

Can I bring more than 30 students in a group?

To provide specific attention and quality experiences for students, we limit visits to 30 students per group. You may book multiple tours to accommodate larger sizes.

Payment

When and how do I pay?

Payment is due by arrival on the day of your visit. Payment methods accepted include:

Credit Card via phone or secure link in advance
Mailed Check
Card/Cash/Check upon arrival
DOE Purchase Order

Are teachers included in the 4 free adults?

Yes, adults include all teachers or chaperones. Any additional teachers or chaperones are $13/person. They may pay upon arrival.

Do paraeducators or supporting adults need to pay the additional fee?

Paraeducators or other required student supports are not required to pay the additional fee. Please declare how many paras/supporting adults will be joining your group on your request form so we can make sure space is available.

Do I pay per student?

No. CMA visit fees are a flat rate for 1-30 students or 1-15 students for D75 or groups of students with disabilities. You are welcome to divide the rate per student at your own school, but the payment to CMA is a flat fee that is not based on the number of students attending.

Do you offer discounts or scholarships?

CMA does not offer discounts on group visits. If your school qualifies as Title 1, you may apply for our Title 1 Scholarship, which invites 1 group (up to 30 students) to visit CMA free of charge. We offer a limited number of scholarships per year.

What are the rules for the Title 1 Scholarship?

If your school or group qualifies at Title 1, you may apply for our Title 1 Scholarship. This scholarship invites 1 group (up to 30 students) to attend a CMA visit free of charge. This scholarship can be awarded to 1 group per school per school year.

When and how do I apply for the scholarship?

CMA accepts Title 1 Scholarship applications on a first-come, first-served basis. If you qualify, there is a section about Title 1 Scholarships on the booking request.

Can we use free passes we received in the past to visit again as a group?

No. Admit-A-Kid or Family Passes are for students to visit during public hours with their family or friends. They cannot be used to cover the fee for a group visit.

Arrival, Departure, and Visit Experience

Is there a space to eat lunch?

There is no indoor space to eat lunch at CMA. Groups are not permitted to eat lunch in the lobby. Many groups like to visit James J. Walker Park for lunch, which is three blocks away from CMA.

Can my group explore the museum before or after our visit?

No. Group visits include a full museum experience, and due to space limitations, groups must exit the museum after their visit ends. Additionally, we cannot accommodate groups who arrive more than 15 minutes early.

I have groups visiting the museum at different times. Can all the groups arrive at once?

No. Due to space limitations, CMA can only host groups during their scheduled visit times. If you have groups scheduled at different times, we recommend staggering your buses and arrival/pickup times. Groups can also visit nearby James J. Walker Park while they wait for their workshop.

Is there a place to put coats and backpacks?

Yes. Students will receive bins for their coats that will be labeled and stowed for the duration of their visit. We have limited space and ask student backpacks or other bags be left at school/on the bus if possible.

My group needs hands-on, sensory experiences. Is a gallery tour still right for them?

Yes! CMA Teaching Artists engage students of all ages and abilities through discussion and hands-on activities in our gallery to encourage a deeper understanding and enjoyment of the artwork. Please share how we can best work with your students when you submit your booking request.

Who leads our group?

Group Visits are led by CMA Teaching Artists. A Teaching Artist is a professional artist who also has a practice in education. CMA Teaching Artists receive specialized training in utilizing their creative skills in teaching children and adults about their art form.

Late Arrival, Rescheduling, and Cancellation

What happens if we are running late?

Your visit only occurs within your visit time slot. If your group is late, you will have an abbreviated visit. We recommend groups further than 40 minutes away book later visit times. Please call CMA at 212-274-0986 as soon as possible to let us know you are running late.

What happens if we need to cancel?

Our cancellation policy requires at least 10 business days (two weeks) notice for any changes to your visit. If you need to cancel or change your visit, please contact the School Programs team as soon as possible to reschedule. If you wish to cancel your visit less than 10 days in advance or your group doesn’t arrive for your visit, you will be billed for the full amount listed on your invoice. Please make sure to confirm your visit with your administration and request a DOE bus at least 2 weeks before your trip.

What happens if we need to reschedule?

Please notify CMA staff as soon as possible if you need to reschedule your visit. CMA staff will work with to reschedule your visit. Please note CMA does not reschedule visits due to low attendance or extremely late arrival. Groups are required to reschedule their visits within the same school year or be billed for the full amount listed on your invoice.

What happens if there is bad weather?

CMA will work with you to reschedule visits cancelled due to inclement weather. CMA follows the DOE inclement weather bussing and school closures policies.

Accessibility and Teacher Resources

Is CMA accessible for people who use wheelchairs?

Yes! The main CMA gallery and classrooms can be accessed using a lift located behind the front desk.

How can I share my students’ needs with CMA staff?

CMA staff makes every effort to access learners of all abilities. Please notify us of any accommodations or specific needs on your booking request such as:

My students are English Language Learners
This is a self-contained classroom
This is an ICT classroom

My group needs hands-on, sensory experiences. Is a gallery tour still right for them?

Yes! CMA Teaching Artists engage students of all ages and abilities through discussion and hands-on activities in our gallery to encourage a deeper understanding and enjoyment of the artwork.

What can we do to prepare for our visit?

Check out our Group Visit Fine Arts and Media Arts Social Stories to prepare your students for their visit to CMA. You can also preview our current exhibitions and check out past exhibitions and projects on our Flickr and Vimeo.

Do you have any resources for teachers or educators?

Yes! Visit our Staff Development page for project ideas and tips for programs at your school, like The Ideal Studio and the Inclusive Classroom. We also offer Professional Development training our in our child-directed, project-based approach to art-making.

Join us for free Educator Open Houses at CMA
Sign up for our Learning Leaders Network email list to receive project how-tos and invitations to CMA events

Do you also offer residencies or school-based programs?

Yes! During in-school partnerships, professional Teaching Artists collaborate with CMA education staff and teachers to foster learning opportunities through the arts in your classroom. Find out more by clicking here.

Do you have other programs for students with disabilities?

Yes! We offer free weekend family programming for children with disabilities and their friends and loved ones, as well as free public hours admission for children with disabilities. Please visit our Inclusive Programs page for more information.

Testimonials

“We loved our trip to CMA and the activities you had planned for us. Thank you for being so flexible, providing an inclusive and rich opportunity for our explorers, and opening these experiences up to our population. We appreciate your generosity and providing us with a scholarship so both groups could participate. The artwork the kids made was something new and exciting and we’re so happy they were exposed to such a cool project!”

— NYC Public School Teacher

CMA & Schools