Themed Tours

Themed Tours
Themed tours of the IMA galleries are available to educational groups (universities, preschools, after-school programs, home school groups and traditional classrooms) for grades preschool and up. All tours should be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance of your visit.

GUIDED THEMED TOURS

Creative Hoosiers: Indiana Artists @ IMA (Grades 4-12)
Indiana has been a vibrant source of both artists and inspiration for artists. The IMA's collection supports this rich history starting in the late 19th century and moving well into the 21st. Come and meet some of your fellow Hoosiers!
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Cycles of Life in Africa (Grades 7-12)
Many cultures in Africa see the stages of life bound together in a continuous circle. Explore this circle through the art of Africa. Based on the award-winning IMA Web site, Cycles: African Life Through Art.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Explore the Art of France or Spain (Grades 9-12)
The art of a country is a record of culture, history, people and places. Explore the rich art and culture of France or Spain.
* This tour is available in French or Spanish and is subject to a 30-day notice and the availability of French or Spanish-speaking docents.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Her-story: Women Artists @ IMA (Grades K-12)
Introduce yourself to the many women artists who call the IMA home, and discover the important contributions they made to the history of art as you explore the galleries.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Learning to Look: Animals in Art (Grades P-3)
Experience a variety of artworks while exploring the galleries and searching for wildlife at the IMA. Animals abound in this tour combining careful looking and critical thinking as you discover some of the many ways in which animals are portrayed in art.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Learning to Look: Sound (Grades P-3)
Listen closely and learn about sound as you explore works of art that have something to say. Students will use their eyes and ears to help them think about the various ways in which artists depict sound.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Learning to Look: Children in Art (Grades P-3)
While exploring the galleries and experiencing a variety of artworks, students will think about how children have been portrayed in art over time and in many different cultures.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Learning to Look: Art Basics (Grades P-3)
Look for the basic elements of a work of art while discovering shapes, colors, materials, and other design elements in a tour of the galleries. Students will explore these ideas while looking at art from a variety of culture and historic periods.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Life in Early Europe (Grades 4-12)
Explore life in early Europe through works of art from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Dutch Golden Age.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Money Talks: The Economics of Art in Europe (Grades 6-12)
Open up the economy of Europe by looking at paintings from the 16th through the 20th centuries. See the kinds of things artists were creating, discover the people whom they were creating for and investigate how works of art can tell us about the economics of Europe throughout history.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Oldfields (Grades 4-12)
Visit the restored historic estate of J. K. Lilly Jr. located on the grounds of the IMA. (This space can accommodate groups of up to 40.)
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Spotlight a Collection (Grades K-12)
Explore important works of art from one of the following IMA collections: American, Contemporary, African*, Asian, or European.
*The Spotlight tour of the African collection includes an opportunity for students to closely examine and handle African works of art.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF): American, Contemporary, African, Asian, European

Voices and Visions: African American Artists @ IMA (Grades K-12)
Explore the rich contributions African American artists have made to the history of art as you explore the American and Contemporary art collections.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) (Grades K-12)
This tour focuses on a small number of carefully chosen works of art that cover various media, cultures and time periods. Led by a docent, students will hold in-depth group discussions generated by their creative and careful looking. This interactive tour employs VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies). For more information on this tour and VTS, contact the Senior Coordinator of Teacher and School Programs.
Related Indiana Academic Standards (PDF)

Special Exhibition (Grades K-12)
Three times a year the IMA hosts special exhibitions which explore a variety of art from around the world and throughout history. School groups can receive a guided tour of the current exhibition.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

School groups interested in structuring their own exploration of the IMA can schedule a self-guided tour of the galleries, grounds and/or special exhibitions.