Turkstra Lumber School Tours

The Discovery Tour
Students will tour several exhibitions, including selections of Canadian, European and Contemporary exhibitions, discussing ways that artists in different times and places interpret themes and ideas, and navigate through materials and ideas. Tour content balances technical, stylistic and anecdotal information, visual description, the elements and principles of design and visual literacy skills in interpreting the meaning, context and message of works of art. Tours are grade-appropriate, allowing students to discover information in a friendly and safe environment.

Custom Tours
If your class has specific interest, please discuss this when booking your visit. We can plan a more focused tour, spending more time in fewer exhibitions to develop students’ experience in an in-depth programme. If you wish to have students complete a written assignment, it is best to plan for additional time after a tour for completion.

Independent Work
As you will not necessarily see everything on display during your tour, you may plan for students to enjoy free time in the Gallery after scheduled activities. Students may work independently in the Gallery after 11:00 am. Please review the Gallery Rules and Expected Behaviour with students before you arrive.

Morning visits begin at 9:30 am, afternoon visits begin at 1:30 pm.
A Tour ONLY visit is approximately ONE hour.
A Tour+Studio workshop is approximately TWO hours.
AGH Docents will greet you in the Reception Area.


BMO Studio Workshops
An hour-long hands-on studio activity complements your tour, to make a complete two-hour Gallery experience - available Tuesday through Friday, morning or afternoon sessions.

Painting
Printmaking
Drawing in the Gallery
Studio Drawing
Collage & Mixed Media

Especially for Secondary Students:
Life Drawing
Silk Screen T-shirt Printing
Advanced Studies in Painting or Printmaking

If you are interested in something special, please ask about these and other custom-designed studio options.

Please download the PRE-tour Planner provided and use them to prepare for your Gallery experience. These are a starting point and should be adjusted to suit your grade and interests. During your tour, students will be able to share their ideas, and these questions and activities will give them things to think about. Remember, you might not have time to see all of these exhibitions, so be sure to tell us what you’d like to see. Also, please review below our Gallery Rules & Expected Behaviour with your class before your visit.

Download the Winter/Spring 2012 PRE-tour Planner (PDF)

*For descriptions about current and upcoming exhibitions, click here.

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Booking Information

Tour ONLY: $6.00 per student
Tour+Studio: $7.00 per student

TO BOOK YOUR VISIT, please contact the Education Department at 905-527-6610 ext. 272, or e-mail education@artgalleryofhamilton.com.

What we need to know:

the date and time you wish to visit; the grade and approximate number of students

the kind of programme you are interested in (Tour ONLY or Tour+Studio and what studio?)

any special information - accessibility needs, special interests or the like

would you like an invoice?

Programme Fees:
Tour ONLY $6.00 each OR Tour + Studio $7.00 each (minimum 16). Extended Studio programmes are also available - pricing is based on programme choices. You will be charged for the number of students who attend (over the minimum requirement). If attendance changes from your original booking please notify AGH as soon as possible.

Programme Times:
Please plan for at least ONE hour for a Tour, or TWO hours for a Tour+Studio. Mornings are 9:30 am - 11:30 am, Afternoons are 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm. These times are flexible if you need to adjust them.

Supervision:
Please ensure that there is ONE Adult Supervisor for every 15 students (there is no charge for extra teachers or adult supervisors).

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Gallery Rules & Expected Behavior

To ensure your group has the best possible visit, it is important that students understand appropriate behaviour. The Docent (volunteer tour guide) is there to guide your students through an exploration of the Gallery and will look to you and your parent volunteers to manage your students’ behavior and discipline.

In preparation for your visit, please discuss these important rules with your class:

• Do not touch the artwork. Do not lean against walls or sculpture stands.
• During a Gallery tour, only one person speaks at a time –it is always important to listen when someone else is speaking.
• ALL students’ purses, bags, coats etc. are to be left in the cloakroom with no exceptions. This room is locked when students leave so that purses are secure.
• No photography is allowed in the Gallery, but is permitted in the Studio.
• No cell phones!
• No food or drink is allowed in the Gallery spaces (this includes gum).
• Horseplay, running and shouting are not tolerated.
• Pencils only in the exhibition spaces – no pens, coloured pencils or markers.

Suggested Activities:
Classroom discussion about artwork – Why Aren’t We Allowed to Touch?

"Did you know that a single fingerprint contains a variety of salts and oils that can damage a work of art? Accumulated salts and oils will stain wood, stone, paper and fabric, discolour paint and mar metal finishes. Fingernails, rings and even the lightest pressure from a touch can lead to loss and damage."

Start with a clean glass or window, and ask your class for a student who thinks their hands are clean to touch the glass or window and then look to see what has happened. You should see fingerprints left behind. Or pass a clean, clear object around the classroom. Once everyone has held it, look to see how clean it is (or isn’t).

Getting Everyone’s Attention Without Yelling
Many teachers have their own fun ways of getting students’ attention without yelling over everyone else. Sometimes, a teacher will stand with their hand up. When the students see this they know to stop talking and raise their hand too. Once everyone’s hand is up, the class is quiet and the teacher can speak. Here at the Gallery, some of our Artist-Instructors clap a pattern of beats that the students repeat. Once everyone is listening and is able to repeat the pattern, the class is ready to continue.

What do you do to get your class’s attention? We’d love to hear it and to see it in action with your class. If you don’t already have this kind of activity in place in your class, try to think of one and share it with us!