Group Visits

The Hood Museum of Art offers guided and self-guided tours for groups both in person and online. Tours may feature artworks from across the collection, specific exhibitions, public art around campus, or the Orozco mural.  

K–12 Classes

We have a wonderful team of trained volunteer docents to lead programs tailored to your students' needs, both in person and online.

Guided Tours

In our interactive tours, groups will look closely at works of art and use critical thinking skills to analyze, question, and develop their own interpretations. We offer a variety of strategies to engage audiences with multiple learning styles, from discussions and creative writing to drawing in the galleries. Tours can focus on a particular exhibition or collection, or they can explore a theme across the galleries. We also offer tours of the public art collection and José Clemente Orozco's mural cycle. Please use our online form. 

Self-Guided Tours

When the museum is open to the public, school groups can explore the museum on their own. If you are planning a self-guided tour, however, we ask you to please let us know: either click here to use our online form or call 603-646-1469 in advance of coming. As there may be other groups in the museum at the same time, tell us about any specific galleries in which you are interested. We also offer a number of resources for teaching on the Educator Resources Page. 

Planning a Guided Visit

If you are a school group that is planning a visit, please use this form to help us better ascertain your curricular goals.  We ask that you reach out at least three weeks prior to your potential visit date.

Once we confirm your visit, your tour guide will contact you to learn more about your goals, after which they will develop a customized learning experience for your students. 

Guided tours typically last one hour and are offered for groups of five to eighteen people. Groups larger than eighteen will need to be divided into smaller groups. We require one chaperone for every eight students.

Preparing for Your Group Visit

Find useful information about how to prepare your group for your visit to the museum, including details about logistics, chaperones, and policies, as well as tips to make the most of your time. 

Dartmouth Classes & Students

As a faculty member or student at Dartmouth, you have a unique opportunity to engage with art in the Bernstein Center for Object Study. Whether you're teaching a course, conducting research, or simply appreciating the beauty of creativity, we invite you to visit.  

Faculty and students interested in using the Bernstein Center for Object Study can find more information here.

Community Groups 

Whether you are a group visiting from afar or from right down the street, we would be delighted to share our collection of over 67,000 objects with you. We tailor tours specifically to the interests and needs of your group, including learners with disabilities. We are passionate about making the Hood Museum accessible to all.  

Planning a Visit

If you are a community organization or group (including summer camps), please use this form. We will contact you to discuss the details of your visit. We ask that you reach out at least three weeks prior to your potential visit date. If you are planning a visit within a shorter period, please still reach out—however, we may be unable to accommodate a last-minute request. 

Art in Focus

Art in Focus is a free program offered by the Hood Museum for people living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia and their family members or care partners. Looking at art together can combat isolation, increase socialization and creativity, reduce stress, provide opportunities for emotional expression, and stimulate the senses. Led by a specially trained educator, this interactive program takes place in the museum. We partner with care providers in the area for this program. If you are a care provider who would like to start visiting us, please reach out to hood.museum.tours@dartmouth.edu to schedule an experience. If you are a care partner looking to bring an individual, please still reach out to us, and we can have you join a tour. 

Teambuilding

Are you looking for something fun to do with your team? Free customized interactive tours might include drawing or creative writing or fun activities like our scavenger hunts, or you can choose one of our two Escape Room games. Our "Secrets of the Palace: Assyrian Escape Room" should take about 40 minutes in person, with a gallery visit to the reliefs to follow. Our Escape to the Outdoors Escape Room features the public art collection and can be done virtually or in person. This game takes 60–90 minutes and can be found here.