School Tours
The Walker Art Center offers interactive, learner-centered explorations of the galleries and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden for school groups of all ages.
Educator-Led Tours
All guided K–12 and university tours are led by experienced museum educators and can be customized to focus on specific themes and exhibitions. Walker tours support learning for students of all ages, abilities, and familiarity with contemporary and modern art. Our K–12 tours are designed to align with Minnesota Academic Standards.
Our College & University Partnerships program offers unlimited free admission for students and faculty.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are led by experienced museum educators for school and youth groups of 65 or less, with one chaperone required per 10 students. Thematic and customized tours are available, including for Special Education classrooms (including Citywide Autism Program and inclusive classrooms), and tour can be paired with a related art-making lesson.
Guided Tour Add-On: Art Labs
K–12 groups have the option to add an Art Lab to their Guided Tour experience for free. Art Labs are typically 45–60 minutes in length and invite students to participate in a hands-on art-making lesson related to the themes they explore in their K–12 Guided Tour.
Group Visits
Self-led group visits are a good option for groups of 10 or more that are familiar with the Walker’s collection and comfortable using our Resources for Learning, including downloadable exhibition guides and lesson plans. Visits must be scheduled at least one week in advance (no reservation needed for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden), with one chaperone required per 10 students.
Free Virtual Tours
Interested in bringing art from the Walker Art Center to your classroom? Our virtual tours guide K–12 students through a 30-minute presentation of 3–4 works from our collection. Virtual tours include observation and interpretation exercises. Customized tours are available for a fee.
In-School Residencies
Bring the Walker to your K–12 classroom through an in-school residency. Walker educators facilitate a discussion-based lesson about works from the Walker’s collection, followed by a related art-making project. Residencies and all materials are free and provided by the Walker Art Center.
Themes for K–12 Guided Tours
Introduction to Contemporary Art
Students engage in close looking and critical analysis of contemporary artworks, developing skills to question and interpret what they see.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
Exploring the intersection of art and STEM, students investigate scale, patterns, and processes while strengthening observation and critical thinking.
ELA (English Language Arts)
Students discover how elements of art function like language, identifying characters, weaving narratives, and interpreting visual stories.
Social Studies
Examining artworks that reflect history and contemporary issues, students analyze artists’ intentions and connect art to past and present events.
Tour Capacities and Pricing
| Visit Type | Group Size Limit | Visit Length | Price |
| Guided Gallery Tour | 65 Students | 1 hour (45 minutes for K–2 groups) |
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| Guided Sculpture Garden Tour (May–October) | 65 Students | 1 hour (45 minutes for K–2 groups) |
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| Guided Gallery & Sculpture Garden Tour (May–October) | 65 Students | 2 hours (1.5 hours for K–2 groups) |
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| Self-led Gallery Visit | 75 Students (Grades 6–12 + College) |
Unlimited |
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| Self-led Sculpture Garden Visit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
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Transportation and Parking
Need Help Getting Here?
Did you know K–12 groups booking guided tours can get up to $400 per visit to cover bus costs, thanks to the Alene Grossman Memorial Fund? Just request a bus when filling out your Tour Request Form.
Request a Tour
Bus Parking & Drop-off
Students should be dropped off on Vineland Place, at our front entrance. Buses can park in the nearby Parade lot, but must submit a permit application.
Submit a Permit Application Walker Directions & Parking Map
Before Your Visit
Explore our field trip prep lesson plans, chaperone guide, and Social Narrative, all available as downloadable resources to introduce your students to the Walker. These tools help you and your students feel prepared and excited for your visit, and the Social Narrative is especially helpful for younger students or those who may feel nervous about the field trip.
Free Digital Guide
Use our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects to expand your understanding of the art on view in the galleries and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
Education and Public Programs are supported the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation and Susan and Rob White.