K-12 Programs

Students discover the world of art by coming face to face with works by Rubens, Picasso, and Remington. Watch history come alive as they investigate art from the Renaissance, South America, or the American West. Imagine students making connections between art and pop culture as they explore American contemporary art.

At the Blanton, students experience interactive, inquiry–based learning emphasizing careful observation and engagement with art. Think of the Blanton as your classroom away from school.

Find out more by downloading the 2007–2008 School Programs Brochure (pdf – download adobe reader.)

K – 12 Tours

  • Look & Learn: Enhance visual literacy through discussion and examination of highlights from the museum's collection.
  • Destination Europe: Meet ordinary and extraordinary people from Europe from the 1500s to 1700s and learn about the culture in which they lived.
  • America/Americas: Investigate modern and contemporary works from North, South, and Central America through discussion and hands–on activities.
  • Poets, Athletes, and Mythological Characters: Discover how artists from ancient times to today have been inspired by Greek and Roman mythology and culture. Recommended for 6th – 12th grade students.
  • Introduction to Prints: Discover the world of prints by examining a variety of print media and learning about their cultural significance. Recommended for 6th – 12th grade students.
  • Story Time Tour: Discover the basics of art and the magic of children's literature by exploring well–loved stories in relationship to artwork in the Blanton's collection. Recommended for Pre–K to 2nd grade students.
  • Art Now: Learn why contemporary artists express ideas about the past as well as the world live in today. Recommended for 6th – 12th grade students.
  • Made to Order Tour: Brainstorm with a museum educator to create a one–of–a–kind tour specifically aligned with your students' curriculum and needs.

Schedule a Tour
* Must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance

  • We can accommodate up to 75 students per hour. If your group is larger than 75 people, we can schedule back–to–back tours.
  • Guided tours are 50 minutes in length and are available Tuesdays – Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM
  • We require one adult (over 18) chaperone for every eight students.
  • Chaperones are required to stay with their group at all times and to oversee that students follow museum guidelines.
  • School tours are $2 per student. Required chaperones and teachers accompanying school groups are free. Additional adults pay regular admission price of $7.
  • Visit the museum to preview the collections and exhibitions before you bring your students in order to make meaningful connections for them.
  • Self-guided groups may visit the Blanton during regular museum hours. The first self-guided tour begins at 10:30 AM and we can accommodate 35 per hour. Please schedule these visits in advance. We offer resources for teachers leading a self-guided tour.

Blanton Parking Map (pdf – download adobe reader.)

Schedule Your Group

School Programs

Art Central Program

  • Art Central is a vibrant program that allows students in 4th–6th grade to visit the museum four times during the school year, introducing them to the role and purpose of a museum through interaction with guided interpretation of art. The program's four lessons are: The Magic and Mystery of Museums, The Artist's Tools, Messages in Art, and Mastering the Museum. Participating schools receive bus service, teacher training, and resources to implement the program. Space in the program is limited and by application only. Confirmed Art Central Participants Only
  • Please print and fax the Art Central Application Form (pdf – download adobe reader) to (512) 471–5515, or mail to:
  • Education Department
    The University of Texas at Austin
    Blanton Museum of Art
    1 University Station D1301
    Austin, TX 78712

Educator Exclusives

  • Educator Membership
    Educators receive all the perks of any membership level plus these special offers:
    $10 Educator discount on membership
    20% off teacher workshops
    20% off teacher manuals and resources
    Half–price admission for one class

2008 Programs

  • Looking at History and Culture through Art Workshop
    Saturday, February 2, 2008, 10 AM – 2 PM
    Art can reveal many facets of a culture and time period in which it was created. Through art students can learn about historical events and better understand the many belief systems in our world. Explore rich connections between social studies curricula and the visual arts by examining the Blanton's current exhibitions and collection. Workshop fee: $40; $32 for members.
  • Teacher Tonic
    Thursday, March 20, 2008, 4:30–7:30 PM
    Discover the Blanton's contemporary collection and our newest WorkSpace: In the Wake of Katrina. Find out about the Blanton's education programs, sip on a glass of wine, take a tour, or unwind with a chair massage.
  • Everything You Always Wanted To Know about Prints But Were Afraid To Ask
    Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 10 AM – 4 PM
    To many people prints are mysterious, yet imbedded in them is a fascinating history and artistic tradition. Prints teach us about history and reveal the culture in which they were made. Creating a print requires not only artistic ability but also a scientific understanding of materials, chemistry, and technique. Learn how to use prints to teach your class a history lesson, science experiment, and a story all in one. Workshop fee: $50; $40 for members.

Teacher Workshops are generously funded by Applied Materials with additional support from 3M:

Applied Materials Logo

3M logo

Teacher Resources

Art+ is an interdisciplinary program that integrates art and museum visits into the teaching of core curricula: science, math, social studies, and language arts.

  • Art+ Teacher Manuals: designed to provide K–12 educators with resources to make meaningful connections between the visual arts and core curricula, these manuals include an extensive selection of lessons and images with an interdisciplinary approach and are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. Manuals: Looking at History and Culture through Art; Shapes, Patterns, and Proofs; and The Art of Science, The Science of Art. Manuals range from $35–50; $28–44 for members.
  • Art+ Online is an innovative multimedia project that offers students and educators dynamic connections between social studies and the visual arts. Teacher lessons and student interactives are available.

For more information on school programs or to join our teacher mailing list, contact Jennifer Garner, Manager of School and Family Programs, at (512) 471–3564 or jennifer.garner@blantonmuseum.org.

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