The Wiregrass Museum of Art’s guided tours are designed for students to experience original artworks, ask questions, discover new ideas, and build knowledge of their community. Tours are aligned with Alabama’s Department of Education Standards to make learning across the curriculum come alive!
The Wiregrass Museum of Art’s guided tours are designed for students to experience original artworks, ask questions, discover new ideas, and build knowledge of their community. Tours are aligned with Alabama’s Department of Education Standards to make learning across the curriculum come alive! Led by our museum educators or trained docents, guided tours of the museum bring to life our rich permanent collection and stellar special exhibitions. Tours are subject to the relevant admission charges.
- Museum Tour: $3 per student, 1 hour touring the museum galleries
- Tour & Activity: $5 per student, 30 minutes touring the museum, 30 minutes creating a work of art
- Extended Tour & Activity: $6 per student, 45 minutes touring the museum, 45 minutes creating a work of art
- Choose Your Medium Tour & Activity: $10 per student, 1 hour touring, 1.5 hours creating art. Medium selections: linoleum carving, monoprinting, collage art, encaustic painting
- Clay Tour & Activity: $15 per student, 1 hour touring the museum, 1.5 hours creating and glazing a ceramic work of art. 10 student minimum, 45 student maximum. All artwork will be dried and fired in the kiln then available to be picked up two weeks after the tour.
The art lesson can be cross-curricular tailored to what your students are currently learning in the classroom. Specify your art lesson interests when you register for your tour. If there is not a specified cross-curricular art lesson mentioned, the art activity will be based off a work of art currently on display in the galleries.
For more information about tour options at WMA, click to download information below
At the museum we strive to ensure each student has an engaging experience. Below you will find the recommended number of chaperones per student.
- K-2nd grade: 1 adult per 5 students
- 3-8th grade: 1 adult per 10 students
- 9-12th grade: 1 adult per 15 students
Admission is free for one teacher or chaperone per 10 students. Additional chaperones pay $3 each. (All chaperones must be 21 years of age and up)
Late Arrival: You are responsible for arriving at the Museum at your scheduled time. Please carefully review driving directions in advance. Unfortunately, we cannot extend the length of your guided tour because of late arrival. If you are going to be late, please call our front desk at 334-794-3871. We cannot delay or reschedule your tours if you are late, the tour will still finish at the scheduled time. Late groups are still responsible for paying the full amount.
Cancellations or Rescheduling: If you need to cancel your tour please consult the following terms.
We do our best to be flexible with every school but late cancellations and no-show classes incur significant staffing costs to the Museum.
Early Cancellation: Cancellation requests must be sent by email to brook@wiregrassmuseum.org at least two weeks prior to your scheduled visit. Cancellations are only finalized once acknowledged by an email response. If you need to reschedule (with at least two weeks’ notice), we will make every effort to accommodate a new proposed date, but cannot guarantee a spot.
Lavonda: “Creatives need a place that fosters that spirit in them and I believe our tours of the museum do just that. It is my hope that we can light that creative spirit and celebrate its power in all of us as we look, study, create, and learn more about art in its many forms.”
Daisy: “The children never cease to amaze me with their insight; their perceptions of the artwork are pure and often wise. Thank you for the opportunity. The educators, Amanda and Brooke, are such an asset to our community!”
Jim: “I docent because I love art. Being a docent forces me to learn about art I’m not interested in, which adds depth to my thinking. And also you can look at art alone and enjoy it. You can read books, listen to music, and look at art by yourself. I think that’s a valuable lesson to share with students — how to enjoy things alone.”
Elaine: “Being a docent is fun! Children are so happy to be on a field trip, seeing new things and producing art themselves! Their energy and enthusiasm is infectious! I leave the museum happier than when I arrived!”
Ann: “ I believe in the value of art; in the creating of it and the lessons learned from it. I believe in the value of young people and the joy of a shared learning experience. Both are worth the investment of time. Being a docent also provides an avenue to express my appreciation to my community for their investment in a quality art museum.”
Annamarie: “When the museum was growing, my family was honored to remember my grandmother’s artistic nature which found expression in her 50s and 60s. Though I practice art through drama and the written word, I have tremendous respect for fine artists who create with paint, metal, paper, and wood. My teacher’s heart feels great joy when students encounter a visionary, make connections between images and ideas, and gain a new appreciation for their own imaginations. And, of course, Pablo Picasso said it so well, ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’”
Contact Educator Brook McGinnis to schedule a tour.
Bring your students to the Wiregrass Museum of Art during the 2019-2020 school year with our Bus on Us program, a partnership between WMA, Dothan City Schools, and Houston County Schools to provide reimbursed bus transportation for PreK-12 field trips to the museum. We want every student in our local school systems to experience regular visits to WMA so they can benefit from new exhibitions and hands-on art education to cultivate lifelong learning through visual art. Each Dothan City and Houston County school receives reimbursement for 8 buses covering the system-approved cost of mileage and bus driver time to the museum, during the tour, and after the museum tour for up to 3 hours.
This program has been made possible through grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Southeast Alabama Community Foundation.
HOW IT WORKS
- Principals notify teachers of the program and coordinate which classes/grades will receive bus reimbursement.
- Teachers sign up for school tours online beginning August 1, 2019 with the Bus on Us link above and submit reimbursement form.
- WMA reimburses the school system for the allotted number of buses.
- Pre K-12 Students receive consistent arts education experiences over their school career, building their creativity and critical thinking skills.
Docents
Docents are a vital part of the Wiregrass Museum of Art’s mission to educate and inspire audiences through the visual arts and its interpretation. Docents are specially trained volunteers who guide museum tours for school groups and visitors. They facilitate learning about and making a connection with the permanent collection and exhibitions through discussion of the artwork on exhibit.
As a WMA docent, you will have the opportunity to become a more effective communicator and educator by interacting with a variety of visitors, to expand your knowledge of visual art through research and training provided by WMA, to connect with your community and a diverse group of art enthusiasts, and to attend special events and classes just for docents!
Docents are encouraged to become members of the Museum, but it is not a requirement.
TEACHER FEEDBACK
“Thanks for the great time and fun learning experience. Everything was so organized and planned. Will highly recommend to others!”
Clay Tour, Kinston Elementary
“The tour was awesome, all of the kids stayed involved which is hard with a vast age group.”
Tour and Activity, Homeschool Group
“…the students and teachers said it was their best field trip they have attended.”
Clay Tour, Beverlye Magnet