School tours for students K –12
Ignite curiosity, deepen inquiry, and build connection
ABOUT OUR TOURS
The Speed Art Museum offers engaging, docent-supported school tours designed for students from K through 12th grade. Tours are tailored to specific grade ranges and learning goals, exploring themes such as changing perspectives in art, global cultures, special exhibitions, collections highlights, STEAM connections, museum inquiry skills, and underrepresented artists. Students and educators have the option of a one-hour tour only, or a two-hour experience, which includes the tour, plus an hour of self-guided Museum exploration. All tours are led or supported by trained docents who guide discussion, encourage close looking, and adapt content to the age and interests of each group. Tours are $10 per student.
For supervision, grades K–8 require one chaperone per 10 students, and grades 9–12 require one chaperone per 12 students. There is no additional cost for required chaperones. Any additional adults beyond the required number of chaperones will be asked to pay regular Museum admission. There is a maximum tour capacity of 60 students, plus chaperones.
EXPLORE OUR TOURS
School tours are offered most Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 am and must be booked a minimum of three weeks in advance. Following are the current tour offerings, organized by grade levels. Please review these options carefully. You’ll be asked to choose one of these tours when you submit your tour request to bring your students to the Speed. We look forward to welcoming you.
Making Friends
Our youngest visitors explore the galleries to discover both familiar faces and people they’d like to meet in works of art ranging from ancient to contemporary. Designed to stoke creative thinking and inspire collaboration.
STEAM
Explore art through the lens of science, technology, engineering, creativity, and math.
Where in the World
Students travel the galleries and explore the relationship between works of art that span the globe.
Museum Mysteries
Students learn to stop, look closely, and unravel mysteries that the average visitor might not solve.
Special Exhibition
View and discuss a current Speed special exhibition during this one-hour docent-guided tour.
Collections Highlights
Explore and chat about highlights of the Speed’s collection during this one-hour docent-guided tour.
Explore the Speed
Teachers choose their own path for a self-guided tour of the Museum’s collection. A docent is available for support. Specific artworks or collections centered on a classroom area of study can be requested up to three weeks prior to the tour date.
STEAM
Explore art through the lens of science, technology, engineering, creativity, and math.
Changing Perspectives
During this tour we look at the way art has changed over time, the way our perspectives can shift when it comes to art, and the way art changes us.
At this time, hands-on artmaking is not available for any of our school tours.
Request a Tour
Tours must be requested a minimum of three weeks in advance of your intended visit date. It is strongly advised to wait to book buses and finalize your plans until receiving tour confirmation from the Speed. Please complete the form on the following page and our guest experience team will be in touch within 7 business days to confirm availability or to provide you with alternate date options.
If you have questions email museumtours@speedmuseum.org.
Plan your visit/FAQs
Once your tour is confirmed, we’ll send an invoice to the billing contact on your request form. Payment is due the day of your visit and can be made by credit card, check, or ACH transfer.
Tours are $10 per student. There is no additional cost for required chaperones (grades K–8 require one chaperone per 10 students, and grades 9–12 require one chaperone per 12 students). Any additional adults beyond the required number of chaperones will be asked to pay regular museum admission.
In the past, grant funding allowed many schools to visit at little or no cost. That support is not available at this time; tour fees now help us make these programs possible. We understand this is a shift for some schools and appreciate your partnership as we continue to provide meaningful tour experiences for students.
There is a guest drop-off area in front of the Speed’s main entrance. After student drop-off, buses may park in the Cardinal Stadium parking lot off Floyd Street.
To help us protect and preserve our collection for the enjoyment of all Speed guests, please follow our general rules of Museum conduct.
While visiting the galleries please do not touch or point closely to any art or lean on cases or walls; the smallest touch can irreparably harm the works.
Please maintain a standing distance of 2-3 feet, approximately an arm’s length, between yourself and any work on display. As you visit the galleries, please be aware of your proximity to each work you pass, and keep all carried items (bags, unworn coats, etc.) from touching the art – remember the closest artwork might be behind you. Please do not cross any barriers in front of or surrounding artwork, such as tape lines or rope stanchions. Open flames of any kind are prohibited.
Considerate behavior is expected of all guests. Guests are expected to follow the reasonable directions or instructions from Museum personnel. Any individual or group whose behavior is disruptive may be asked to leave.
We are located on campus of the University of Louisville. The Museum does not have the space for students to eat lunch. Please time your field trip accordingly or make accommodations to have lunch offsite.
Click here to view the area options.
School tours at the Speed follow the Jefferson County Public Schools weather-related decisions. (See JCPS website). If JCPS is closed or operating on NTI due to weather conditions, your school tour will be rescheduled.
Should you need to cancel or reschedule your tour, please contact us as soon as possible at museumtours@speedmuseum.org.