The Gardner Museum welcomes college groups. One-hour tours are designed to engage visitors through conversation and close looking, while also exploring the history of the museum.
Dates and times for tours at the Museum are often reserved quickly. For the best chance of reserving on your desired date and time, please contact the Education Department four weeks in advance.
Gallery experiences offer the opportunity to enhance course curriculum, whether in the arts, literature, history, or even science.
Some suggested tour topics include:
Collection Highlights, Exploring the Renaissance, or Portraits of Power. The new Architecture tour focuses on the conception, design and materials of Renzo Piano’s new wing and its inspiration by the museum’s beautiful courtyard. We are happy to tailor any tour to
support your students’ learning.
All group tours must be arranged at least three
weeks in advance by emailing tours@isgm.org. Modest fees are charged.
The Gardner Museum
also engages many local college students through our University Member Program.
What to Expect
Guided Visits
All student groups are strongly encouraged to visit the Gardner Museum
on a guided gallery experience. Groups of 30 or more are required to be
guided by a museum teacher. Guided tours are conducted by professionally
trained museum teachers who are specifically assigned to your group. A
museum teacher will contact you prior to your arrival to discuss the details of
your visit.
Museum teachers will provide a general introduction to the
context of the museum and the founder, while also facilitating discussion about
approximately five works of art in the museum’s major galleries. Rather than attempting to show students many
objects, we emphasize deeper looking and conversations about a few objects
during your visit. In addition to rich, dynamic discussions amongst the
students, the Gardner
visit also offers opportunities for independent responses through writing and
sketching.
Self-Guided Visits
Groups of 30 or fewer may choose to visit the galleries without a guide, but groups of 10 or more must still make a reservation. Due to the small size of the historic galleries, self-guided groups must be divided into groups of 5 or fewer to explore the Museum.
Scheduling Your Visit
Registration
To schedule a group visit, please contact the Education Department via email at tours@isgm.org or by calling 617 278 5147. All groups of 10 people or more must register at least 4 weeks in advance.
Unregistered groups may be denied entry to the museum.
Group reservations are not confirmed over the phone. The Tour Manager must receive a completed Registration Form before a confirmation letter will be sent.
Group Size
Due to the intimate nature of the museum’s galleries, a maximum of 60 students per tour reservation time is allowed for guided groups and a maximum of 30 students per reservation time for self-guided groups. Groups larger than 60 will have staggered entry.
Hours
Guided visits may be scheduled Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, at the following
arrival times: 11:15am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm and 3:15 pm.
Self-guided visits may be scheduled Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, at the following arrival times: 11:30am, 12:45pm, 2:15pm and 3:30pm.
The museum cannot guarantee extended tours to accommodate late arrivals.
Fees and Payment
College groups are charged $10 per student which includes admission and guided tour.
Self-guided groups: $5 per student, which includes admission only.
Students of University Members receive free admission, and pay a reduced fee for a guided tour.
Please note: Professors are admitted free of charge up to 1 per 10 students.
Cancellations
Should your group need to cancel or change the date of its visit, please call 617 278 5147 or email tours@isgm.org. 72 hours
notice is required.
Parking
The Museum does not provide parking facilities. In addition to metered
street parking, several parking lots and garages are located nearby. Buses must
find their own parking.
Interested in joining as a University Member?
Visit and Discover