School Programs
TAM believes all students are artists, with the power to make meaningful connections by looking, discussing, and creating works of art!
Our team of Educators is excited to offer a variety of ways to engage with your students, whether on a field trip to the museum or on-site at your school.
We use a learner-based method called Visual Thinking Strategies, or VTS, when teaching with visual artworks in our collection and exhibitions both past and present. This method encourages critical thinking, builds community by allowing students to share different points of view, and gives space for students to build their voice and literacy skills. After thoughtful close-looking and discussion, students have the opportunity to further explore their ideas and experiment with different processes through hands-on artmaking activities.
Our educational programs support Common Core Learning Standards. We can tailor workshops to you, whatever your curricular needs!
To schedule your trip to TAM or have our educators visit your classroom, please contact Sunny Ra, Manager of School and Teacher Programs at SRa@TacomaArtMuseum.org or 253-272-4258 x3060
We strive to make our educational programs accessible to all, so if financial support is needed, please let us know!
Request a School Program Online
How to Book Your Visit to TAM
Currently, we can accommodate up to 60 students and staff on a field trip to the Museum. Our programs take about 2 hours for a guided gallery tour with our Educators and an artmaking activity. Lunch space is available upon request.
Please allow 3 weeks’ advance notice when scheduling your visit to TAM. You can register here to start the process. Preview our current exhibitions here.
Bring TAM into Your Classroom!
Schedule TAM to bring the museum experience into your classroom with a dynamic hands-on workshop led by our educators! Projects are tailored to your curricular needs and all materials are provided!
Cost: $5/student per hour.
Half and full day visits are available! Financial support is available as well, please contact us!
TAM also now offers virtual workshops! Please contact us for more details on how to schedule one.
To learn more about all of our programs and how you can schedule TAM to visit your school, please contact Manager of School and Teacher Programs, Sunny Ra at SRa@TacomaArtMuseum.org or 253.272.4258 x3060.
Teacher Professional Development
Our Teacher Professional Development offers educators an opportunity to learn how to use art as an interdisciplinary tool for teaching in your classroom. Training consists of learning about Visual Thinking Strategies, or VTS, a learner-based method of teaching with art, learning about how it connects with school curriculum, and how you can apply these tools to revitalize your educational materials for students.
Please contact us for upcoming Teacher Professional Development opportunities at TAM!
To schedule a workshop at your school, please contact Manager of School and Teacher Programs, Sunny Ra at SRa@TacomaArtMuseum.org or 253.272.4258 x3060. Please allow 3 weeks’ advance notice when scheduling a professional development workshop at your school.
Homeschool Tours
Book your homeschool tour today! Participate in a guided tour of works of art in the museum. Create your own artwork, learning from an expert teaching artist. Spend time exploring the galleries on your own, with self-guided activities and a scavenger hunt. Check out art-making activities in TAM Studio.
We offer different tour tracks depending on the age of the students in attendance. Program cost includes all materials. Lunch not provided; you may bring your own sack lunch or plan to purchase lunch in TAM Café.
To schedule your homeschool tour, please contact Manager of School and Teacher Programs, Sunny Ra at SRa@TacomaArtMuseum.org or 253.272.4258 x3060.
More Information
- College student groups should register as Adult Group Tours.
- Want to stay up to date on all of our educational programs? Sign up for our school and teacher eNewsletter.
School and teacher programs are generously supported by Tacoma Creates and ArtsWA.
