Museum Tours
A visit to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is not just another field trip. It is an opportunity for students to experience the creative ways artists tell their stories, express their emotions, and process the joys and challenges of life.
Whether you prefer experiencing AMFA through a self-guided tour or a docent-led tour, we ask that you submit a tour request so that Museum staff can be prepared for your visit.
Docent-Led Tours
Docent-led museum tours teach students in grades K through 12 how to interpret and discuss art on view in the galleries in a fun and engaging way. Each tour covers three to four artworks and is scheduled to last approximately 45 minutes to one hour. These tours align with Arkansas K-8 and Visual Art Foundations I-IV Visual Art Standards RE.7, RE.8, PR.6, and CN.11, along with other standards, depending on the tour's theme.
Following the tour, your school group is welcome to extend your field trip by exploring the Museum and grounds on your own or enjoying a picnic lunch in MacArthur Park.
Themes
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Rivera's Paris | February 7 – May 18, 2025
Diego Rivera (Guanajuato, Mexico, 1886 - 1957, Mexico City, Mexico), Dos Mujeres (Two Women), 1914, oil on canvas, 77 3/4 x 63 1/2 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Abby Rockefeller Mauzé. 1955.010. What makes an artist great? For Diego Rivera, his first visit to Europe marked a turning point in his life and work. During a time when Paris was the center of the art world, Rivera blended styles inspired by Picasso, Braque, and other Post-Impressionist and Modernist artists. His travels, exposure to groundbreaking ideas, and deep connection to his Mexican heritage fueled an artistic evolution that would shape his career.
Rivera’s Paris brings together paintings, drawings, and photographs to explore the period surrounding the creation of Dos Mujeres, Rivera’s renowned Cubist masterpiece. This immersive tour invites students to experience Paris at its artistic height, highlighting how collaboration, cultural exchange, and innovation can spark extraordinary ideas and art.
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The Art of Looking | Ongoing
Elaine de Kooning (New York, New York, 1918 - 1989, Southampton, New York), Standing Bull, 1958, oil and acrylic on canvas, 78 1/4 x 108 1/4 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Robert Mallary. 1973.024. K-5
See, think, and wonder! In this fun and introductory tour at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, students will learn how to look closely and think like an artist. Through exciting activities and discussions, they’ll explore how an artist’s choices—shaped by their culture, time, and ideas—help tell stories and share feelings. With a variety of colorful artworks and creative styles, students will discover how art can represent, express, and inspire!
6-12
What do you see? This introductory tour at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts invites students to sharpen their observation skills and deepen their understanding of art. Through engaging activities and discussions, students will explore artworks through the perspective of the artist, examining how context shaped their creative decisions. With a diverse selection of media, styles, and ideas, students will learn to analyze and appreciate art as a powerful practice of creativity, expression, and inquiry.
Self-Guided Tours
School groups are also welcome to explore the Museum without a docent through a self-guided experience. Helpful resources like the AMFA Mobile Guide allow your students to follow their interests and explore at their own pace.
Sponsor
School Tours are supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.