K–12 Gallery Tours
Ignite your curiosity while discovering 5,000 years of human creativity through guided and self-guided tours of the UMFA galleries. Beginning with works of art and their stories, we encourage discussion extending across cultures to foster awareness and understanding. We believe that we learn together by asking questions to arrive at new perspectives about art, each other, and the world.
- Tours and field trips are adapted to the interests and age range of the group.
- Guided tours are available by appointment Tuesday–Thursday, schedule at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Tours and field trips are 90-minutes: one-hour in the galleries and 30-minute art-making activity in UMFA's classroom. They can be adapted to shorter or longer periods of time by request.
- Self-guided tours are limited to 40 students and scheduled according to Museum hours and capacity.
- Guided-tour groups are limited to 60 students.
- One responsible adult must accompany every 10 students for grades 1–12. One responsible adult is required for every 5 students for pre-K and kindergarten groups.
- Admission is FREE for public and charter schools. Private and parochial school group rates are $9.95 per person.
- Fee waivers may be available to groups demonstrating need.
- Transportation funding is first come, first served.
Schedule your visit here.
Tour Themes:
Pick from one of the themes detailed below, or request a specific theme or topic.
UMFA Special Exhibitions and Highlights (grades K-12)
Utilizing our global, diverse collection and temporary exhibitions, this guided tour highlights notable artworks through conversation, questions, and engaging activities. Learn about current exhibitions here.
How to Look at a Work of Art (grades K-12)
Train your artistic eye and develop visual literacy as we practice looking closely at details to interpret works of art using visual evidence. Our world is full of images and it is important that we can read them, discover their meaning, and examine why artists make the choices they do. We will discover how to look at a work of art through sketching, storytelling, and games, asking questions about what we see, and making looking at art fun!
Pre-Lesson:
How to Look at a Work of Art
Self Guide:
How to Look at a Work of Art Self-Guide - English
Cómo mirar una obra de arte - Español
Art and What We Eat (grades K-2)
Whether it's a juicy watermelon in a painting or a ceramic pot that holds a special chocolate drink, food is often a part of art! In this tour, K-2nd grade students will explore works of art from UMFA's global collection with an eye toward what people eat and how food - just like art - connects us to one another. In this interactive tour intended to support Utah Core Standards, students will have fun using their imaginations, learning new art vocabulary, and creating their own artwork inspired by what they learn.
Pre-Lesson:
Art and What We Eat - English
Art and What We Eat - Español
Storytelling (grades 3-5)
Come explore a world full of stories at UMFA! Students will experience different types of stories and storytelling methods from around the world to look at and discuss art. Students will learn about visual narrative to uncover clues and details hidden in works of art that reveal secrets, mysteries, facts, and questions. Thanks to our friends at the UofU Book Arts Program, each participant will make a comic book and create their own incredible story!
Pre-Lesson:
Storytelling
Creative Leaps: Inspirations from Contemporary Art and Dance (grades K-6)
Creative Leaps Field Trips with The UMFA & Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co. from Utah Museum of Fine Arts on Vimeo.
In-person Field Trips
Scheduling for 24/25 school year
Join Ririe Woodbury Dance Company and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts as we dance, doodle, and discover the dynamic world of contemporary art and dance! This special program will be held in person at UMFA and will guide students on a diverse journey to react and respond to amazing works of performing and visual art. The program will include a guided tour, art and movement workshops, and a performance by Ririe Woodbury Dance Company.
There is limited availability for this program. Sign up soon!
Creative Leaps: Inspirations from Contemporary Art and Dance
10am-noon
February 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th 2025
Creative Leaps film - pre-lesson
Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) | Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) Partner Field Trips (grades 4-6)
Explore two museums in one day with this exciting adventure of art and culture! Students practice critical thinking skills and discover cultural connections through art and artifact discoveries at the UMFA and NHMU! Groups larger than 60 will be split in two groups and start at different locations. Limited to a total of 120 students. Please click here for more information and to register.
UMFA | NHMU 2024-2025 field trip dates:
November 19th 2024
December 3rd and 11th 2024
January 16th and 21st 2025
February 20th and 26th 2025
March 19th and 25th 2025
UMFA | NHMU pre-lesson
Compare | Contrast
Museum Manners
Observing Museum etiquette protects the art and ensures an enjoyable and safe visit for all. Please discuss these manners before your visit:
- Have fun!
- Ask questions and share your ideas and thoughts
- Listen to and consider the ideas of others
- Please use indoor voices, feet, and hands in the Museum's galleries
- Look but don't touch: oil from your fingers will damage the artwork
- Stay with your group
- No food, drink, or gum is permitted in the galleries.
- Pencils only please (no pens).
While at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, you may be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded. Please let us know if there are specific students, teachers, or chaperones who do not give their consent.
Learn about our pARTners program for fourth graders in the Salt Lake City School District here.
The Jeffery & Helen Cardon Foundation
Curriculum and Lesson Plan Archive
Utah Museum of Fine Arts & Natural History Museum of Utah joint field trip experience!
See, feel, and appreciate the millennial customs and traditions of indigenous peoples! This 4-hour same-day experience includes both a guided tour and art-making at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, as well as an exploration of the Native Voices and First Peoples galleries at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Aligned with sixth-grade social studies standards, this field trip celebrates the cultural and linguistic diversity of indigenous and Latinx peoples, and explores themes of identity, history, and culture.
UMFA & NHMU Joint Field Trip includes:
- Pre-visit activities
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Reimbursement available for transportation
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Free admission to UMFA & NHMU for teachers, students and chaperones, with lunch space
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UMFA guided tour and a hands-on art-making workshop around the theme of identity
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NHMU self-guided tour of Native Voices and First Peoples exhibitions
Pre-Tour Lessons
The Race to Promontory:
Visit the UMFA for tours of Race to Promontory: The Transcontinental Railroad and the American West, a major visiting exhibition that celebrates the 150th anniversary of the “Meeting of the Rails” at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869 through photographs and stereographs. Students will learn more about this important period of Utah history and consider the art of photography, the stories photographers choose to tell, and what’s happening beyond a composition that we might not see.
See the pre-tour lesson, Truth and the Transcontinental Railroad.
*While these tours are geared toward 4th and 7th graders, they can be modified for any K-12 grade level.