Free Educational Experiences for Schools & Teachers 

The Taft Museum of Art offers unique educational experiences that promote critical thinking, creativity, and visual literacy skills. We aim to foster the development of the four Cs of 21st-century learning: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Single-Visit School Tours

Single-visit school experiences allow students to make connections between their classroom learning, works of art, and their own lives. All visits are aligned with Ohio’s Learning Standards and are adapted to grade level and educational goals.

Tours are scheduled Wednesday through Friday at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 a.m.

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Already booked a visit? View our group visit guidelines here.

All About Art (Custom Curriculum Alignment)

Grades: 2–12

Students will develop key visual literacy and creative thinking skills (such as observation, interpretation, and collective group discussion while exploring the many treasures in the Taft’s permanent collection. Each experience can be customized to meet specific educational and curriculum goals.

Art Matters (Social Studies Aligned)

Grades: 3–12

Art holds a mirror up to society, reflecting and commenting on social issues that affect us all. Through unique experiences with works of art in the Taft’s permanent collection, students will examine how art can address topics such as identity; the interaction of people and groups; and nature and the environment. Art Matters aligns with Ohio’s Learning Standards for Social Studies curriculum.

Robert S. Duncanson’s Cincinnati (Social Studies, Fine Arts Aligned)

Grade level: 2-12

This program focuses on the story of the first African American artist to achieve international prominence: Robert S. Duncanson. Students will learn Duncanson’s personal story, what his life was like in Cincinnati during the Civil War era, and how the 150-year-old murals painted on the walls of the foyer at the Taft played a part in his success. Students will create their own imaginative landscape cyanotype (sun print) inspired by Duncanson.

See and Tell (English Language Arts Aligned)

Grade level: 2-6

This program takes a closer look at the connection between visual and language arts. Students will discover how artists, like writers, use concepts like character, setting, plot, and sequence to create a narrative in works of art. Students will apply what they learn to create a zine to tell their own visual story.

Visual Language Arts (English Language Arts Aligned)

Grades: 7–12

Art reflects human experience – the people, events, emotions and more that fill our lives. The visual arts convey meaning and messages about these experiences and provide opportunities to better understand ourselves and the people and world around us. Through engagement with works of art, students will learn how to combine visual information, prior knowledge and experiences, and contextual information to discern meaning. Visual Language Arts aligns with Ohio’s Learning Standards for English Language Arts curriculum.

Special Exhibition Experiences

Grades: Vary per exhibition

Customize your students’ experience at the Taft with our special exhibitions and create deeper engagement and learning opportunities.

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Multi-Visit Programs

Art for All Outreach

Art for All is a free program that provides additional arts engagement that ensures students at eligible schools benefit from enriching art experiences. Students will participate in a museum visit and two classroom visits by a professional teaching artist where they complete an art-making project inspired by their museum experience. Teachers may select to focus on English Language Arts, Social Studies, or the current special exhibition. Busing is free.

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Already booked a visit? View our group visit guidelines here.

*Eligibility is defined as 50 percent or more students receiving free lunch.