School Visit FAQs
Have questions about school programs? The FAQ section has the answers you are looking for.
Scheduling and Programming
Q: Can I bring a class in for a program on the weekend?
Q: Who delivers the programs?
Q: Can my group eat lunch at the Gallery?
Q: How many group supervisors should I bring to the Gallery?
Q: Do you have any group size regulations?
Q: How much will our program cost?
Q: How far in advance should I make my reservation request?
Q: Do we need a reservation for teacher-led (self-guided) visits?
Q: What accommodations are available for students with disabilities?
Q: What can I expect if I book a tour?
Q: Will my students see artworks depicting nudity?
Reservations
Q: Who do I contact to book a school program?
Q: When can I call to book a school program?
Q: How do I book a school program?
Q: How do I know my program booking has been confirmed?
Q: How do I make changes to a confirmed program?
Q: How do I cancel a program?
Preparing for the Trip to the NGC
Q: Why should I bring my students to the Gallery?
Q: How do I prepare my class for our visit to the Gallery?
Q: How do I prepare my group supervisors for their role during our visit?
Q: Is drawing permitted in the galleries?
Q: What can I do to ensure my program starts on time?
Arriving at the NGC
Q: Can students and teachers bring their bags, umbrellas, food, and drink into the galleries?
Q: Can we take photos in the galleries?
Q: What entrance should school groups use?
Q: What procedure should I follow to check my group in?
Scheduling and Programming
Q: Can I bring a class in for a program on the weekend?
School tours and teacher-led (self-guided) visits can be booked on weekends.
Q: Who delivers the programs?
Trained and experienced staff deliver school programs.
Q: Can my group eat lunch at the Gallery?
Yes. School groups may eat brought lunches in designated lunch rooms (located in the NGC Group Entrance, limited seating on a first-come basis). Students may also purchase food at Happy Goat Coffee Co.
Q: How many group supervisors should I bring to the Gallery?
Please see below the required adult-to-student ratios for a school visit:
- Grades K to 3: one adult for every 5 students
- Grades 4 to 6: one adult for every 8 students
- Grades 7 to 12: one adult for every 15 students
Teachers and supervisors visit free of charge, up to the ratio limit. In order to keep group sizes at an optimum level and to ensure the quality of your program, please do not bring more than the required number of adult supervisors.
Q: Do you have any group size regulations?
Most programs are designed for groups of 10 - 25 students. The minimum group size for tours is 10 students and for workshops is 20 students. If your group is smaller than 10, you may still book a program; however, you will be charged for the minimum number of students. The NGC can accommodate more than one group at a time.
Q: How much will our program cost?
Please visit our Plan your School Visit page for School Program Fees.
Q: How far in advance should I make my reservation request?
Don't be disappointed: book early. Use the reservation request form to book a school program. Requests must be submitted four weeks prior to the date you are requesting. Please note that May and June are extremely busy times at the Gallery. The schedule during these months fills early.
Q: Do we need a reservation for teacher-led (self-guided) visits?
All school groups must have a confirmed reservation for either a guided tour or a teacher-led (self-guided) visit. Please note that supervisor/student ratios apply for teacher-led groups.
Q: What accommodations are available for students with disabilities?
The Gallery offers specially designed tours for students with disabilities. See the school program descriptions or speak with the Gallery’s Visitor Services Officer. Otherwise, our trained Interpreters do their best to adapt our school visits to serve the individual needs of all students.
Q: What can I expect if I book a tour?
A Guided Visit begins with an introduction to the institution and the chosen theme. Students visit and discuss 4-6 thematically linked artworks during a 1-hour visit.
Q: Will my students see artworks depicting nudity?
It is highly likely that your students will walk by artworks featuring nudes during their time at the Gallery. However the nude is not a focus in our elementary school programs.
Reservations
Q: Who do I contact to book a school program?
To book a program, fill out a Reservation Request form or contact Group Reservations at 613-990-4888
Q: When can I call to book a school program?
Call between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.
Q: How do I book a school program?
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At least four weeks prior to your program, submit a Reservation Request form.
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Confirmation will be sent to the school once the reservation is complete.
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Read your confirmation letter carefully to ensure that the booking information is correct.
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Notify Group Reservations of any changes as soon as possible to avoid penalties. Changes or cancellations must be made in writing at least three business days prior to your program. Please note we may not be able to accommodate changes to a confirmed booking.
Q: How do I know my program booking has been confirmed?
Once your reservation has been finalized, a confirmation letter will be sent to you. Please review your confirmation letter to ensure that all of the information concerning date, time, and group size is correct. Cancellation fees apply to all visits cancelled with three or less business days' notice. Late requests for changes may not be accommodated. It is important to ensure the number of students confirmed for a program is correct; students not accounted for in the confirmation letter may not be able to participate in programs.
Q: How do I make changes to a confirmed program?
Changes to a confirmed program must be made as soon as possible. To request a change, call or email Group Reservations. While we will do our best, we may not be able to accommodate changes to confirmed programs.
Q: How do I cancel a program?
Contact Group Reservations as soon as possible with your confirmation letter on hand. Changes or cancellations must be made in writing at least three business days prior to your program. Include your school name, program booked, number of students, and confirmation number. You will receive notification of your program's cancellation
Preparing for the Trip to the NGC
Q: Why should I bring my students to the Gallery?
The Educators at the National Gallery of Canada develop programs and tours explicitly for students in harmony with grade specific curriculum goals.
Five things your students will learn on their visit to the Gallery:
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To think critically, interpret information, and consider the values and perspectives of others
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How school subjects have practical value beyond school and for future careers
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Subject-specific content and art-looking (or making) skills
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That art crosses curriculum and expands their Canadian and world knowledge
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To become comfortable in museums and want to return
Q: How do I prepare my class for our visit to the Gallery?
Make the most of your visit to the Gallery by preparing your students for what they will see and talk about. Ensure that students understand the behaviour that is expected of them.
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Discuss the following with your students:
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What is an art gallery?
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What will we see there?
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Review the gallery rules.
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Encourage students to become familiar with the NGC collection.
Teachers, visit the Gallery prior to your trip by showing your confirmation letter to our Visitor's Services staff and receive a complimentary admission.
Q: How do I prepare my group supervisors for their role during our visit?
Ensure that all group supervisors are aware that their role is to support the students' learning. They can do this by,
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Setting a good example and following the gallery rules.
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Allowing Gallery staff to lead the program without interruption.
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Supervising children and ensuring that the group stays together.
Q: Is drawing permitted in the galleries?
Drawing is permitted in the galleries with pencil only (erasers are not permitted). Using walls or podiums as drawing surfaces is not permitted. Teachers leading independent drawing classes in the galleries are asked to provide their own clipboards.
Q: What can I do to ensure my program starts on time?
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Arrive 15 minutes prior to your confirmed program start time, with your students already divided into groups.
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Review the gallery rules with your students prior to arriving.
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Advise your students to leave their valuables at home (The group cloakroom is unsupervised).
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Once your group arrives at the Gallery, have the group leader speak to the Visitor Services representative in the Group Entrance. Ensure the group leader has the confirmation letter and method of payment.
Arriving at the NGC
Q: Can students and teachers bring their bags, umbrellas, food, and drink into the galleries?
Bags, umbrellas, food, and drink are not permitted in the galleries. Read our gallery rules.
Q: Can we take photos in the galleries?
We ask that students not take photographs while their program is being delivered. Except where indicated, photography (hand-held devices only) is tolerated only for personal use and only in the national collection galleries and public spaces. It is the visitors’ responsibility to respect Canadian Copyright laws (see http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-42/) and the rights of artists and their representatives.
Q: What entrance should school groups use?
Please use the Tour Group Lobby entrance located at the north end of the NGC circular driveway.
Q: What procedure should I follow to check my group in?
Bring your students into the Group Entrance in an orderly fashion and instruct them to leave backpacks, coats etc. in the group cloakroom (north corner of Group Entrance). To check in, have the group leader bring the confirmation letter and method of payment to the desk in the Tour Group Lobby. The Visitor Services representative will process payment and advise you of your next steps.