Free School Tours
Our educational experiences for Pre-K to 12th grade students use authentic works of art to inspire and encourage critical thinking and to make real-world connections.
Tours are led by docent educators who use conversation, inquiry, and interactive, hands-on activities and Visual Thinking Strategies to explore themes relevant to your students. Tour experiences are customizable, so students and teachers can connect classroom curriculum with specific artworks, topics, eras, or people—or just come here to experience something completely new.
Due to limited internal capacity, we have made the decision to put a pause on accepting any new requests for guided visits through Fall 2024. School groups are still welcome to come in for a self-guided visit with advanced notice. Please feel free to reach out to tours@portlandmuseum.org with any questions.
Portland schools, reach out to the Learning and Community Collaboration Department at tours@portlandmuseum.org for information on potential funds to cover your transportation costs.
Get excited about your visit! Review the Museum Manners with students and explore the collection online. Call (207) 699-4985 or email with any questions or special requests.
Please note unregistered groups will not be admitted to the museum if their visit conflicts with scheduled groups. Admission fees are not waived for unscheduled school groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my students do on a tour?
Each tour is a unique experience but a few things you can count are exploring between three and eight authentic works of art through a series of conversation, inquiry, and hands-on activities. If you would like something specific, let us know when you book and we’ll do our best to accommodate you requests.
Can we explore on our own afterwards?
Please contact us if you are interested in extending your visit.
Can we request specific artists or artworks to be included on our tour?
We love to customize tours! During the booking process, please let us know what you are interested in and we will do our best to accommodate.
Do you have bus parking?
We do not have bus parking, however buses may temporarily park in the loading zone in front of the museum for student drop of and pick up. During the visits, busses can wait at the City lot at the corner of Park and Commercial streets across the street from the IMT (International Marine Terminal) or at Deering Oaks Park, on the tennis court road.
Can we eat our lunch on site?
Unfortunately, we do not have indoor space for students to eat. If you would like to eat outside, there is a grassy area on the PMA campus that can accommodate up to 40 students. Nearby Deering Oaks Park or Congress Square Park can also accommodate your groups.
What does it cost?
Our tours are free of cost, thanks to the generosity of the Arthur K. Watson Charitable Trust, AVANGRID Foundation, Inc., the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, Onion Foundation, the Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Unum, Susie Konkel, and Marguerite and William J. Ryan, Sr.
When are visits available?
Between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday.
Can we come self-guided without a tour?
The museum strongly encourages docent-led tours for K-12 audiences. If you wish to develop a teacher-led tour, please send an inquiry to the Learning and Community Collaboration Department at tours@portlandmuseum.org. Please note unregistered groups will not be admitted to the museum if their visit conflicts with scheduled groups. Admission fees are not waived for unscheduled school groups.
How long do tours last?
Our tours typically last for one hour. Tours for Pre-K students are 45 minutes.
How many students can I bring?
Most tours can accommodate groups up to 45 students per tour hour. Students will be broken into smaller groups for their tour experience.
How many chaperones are required?
Students must be accompanied by chaperones at all times while in the galleries. We request that there be at least 1 chaperone for every 10 students if possible.
Free School Tours is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur K. Watson Charitable Trust, AVANGRID Foundation, Inc., the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, Onion Foundation, the Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Gorham Savings Bank, Unum, and Marguerite and William J. Ryan, Sr.