Preparing for Your Visit

Thank you for registering your group to tour the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
This packet contains important information to help you, your students and chaperones
prepare for the visit. Please review it completely before your tour. Click on the links
below to go directly to a section, or scroll through the document. We’re looking forward
to seeing you at the Museum!

Planning Your Visit Chaperone Requirements

Contact Us Chaperones per Student
Group Visit Hours Museum Behavior
Fees for Reserved Group Visits Letter to All Chaperones
Group Arrival and Departure
Buses–Loading & Unloading Other
Late Arrival Policy What to Expect on Your Docent-led
Tour
Rescheduling Additional Guidelines for Self-Guided
Tours
Cancellation Policy May We Recommend….
Accessibility
Off-Site Lunch Options
Directions Thank You!
 PLANNING YOUR VISIT

All group visits must have a confirmed appointment. To make an appointment to visit the
museum, please complete and submit the Group Reservation Request Form by phone,
fax, or mail to the Group Visit Coordinator.
Phone: (860) 278-2670, ext. 3046
Fax: (860) 249-7780
The form is available in the School and Teacher Program guide.

Submission of your reservation form does not guarantee your tour time until you receive
a confirmation letter from the museum by mail. Space is limited. Appointments must be
made at least three weeks in advance. Groups without a scheduled appointment may
not be able to enter the museum.
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CONTACT US
Wadsworth Atheneum (860) 278-2670
Group Visit Coordinator (860) 278-2670, ext. 3046
Tour.Coordinator@WadsworthAtheneum.org

Teacher Programs (860) 278-2670, ext. 3049

TeacherPrograms@WadsworthAtheneum.org

Tour Cancellation Line (860) 278-2670, ext. 3182

600 Main Street

Hartford, CT 06103 FAX: (860) 249-7780
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GROUP VISIT HOURS

Wednesday – Friday Docent-guided visits: 9:30 a.m. –3:30 p.m.
Teacher-guided visits: Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday (Closed to the public) Docent-guided visits: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
No Teacher-guided visits available
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FEES FOR RESERVED GROUP VISITS
Hartford Public Schools: Free
All other schools: $4 per person

One payment for the entire group is due upon arrival at the Museum Front Desk.
Payment can be made with cash, credit card, or check. Please make checks payable to
the Wadsworth Atheneum. We will be happy to provide you with a receipt at the time of
payment.
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GROUP ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Please plan to arrive at the museum 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time in order
to:
• Register
• Pay admission fees
• Organize students into tour groups of 15, and
• Greet your docents

Groups should enter the Atheneum through the Main Street entrance. For visitors with
mobility limitations, see the “Accessibility” section. We recommend that you allow 15–20
minutes after your tour time if you plan to visit the Museum Shop.
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BUSES – LOADING AND UNLOADING

Buses may unload and reload passengers at the museum entrance on Atheneum
Square North. This entrance is also wheel chair accessible.

Schools are responsible for making their own parking arrangements for buses.
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LATE ARRIVAL POLICY

Groups arriving more than 15 minutes late are not guaranteed their scheduled tour.
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RESCHEDULING
To change or reschedule a group visit, please call the Group Visit Coordinator (860-278-
2670, ext. 3046) at least 24 hours in advance. Rescheduling is done as space and time
permits.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel a visit, call the tour cancellation line and leave a message at (860) 278-2670,
ext. 3182.

If your school has a delay or closes due to weather conditions, your museum visit is
cancelled automatically. Check your local news for weather information.
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ACCESSIBILITY
The Wadsworth Atheneum is accessible to people with mobility limitations. Please enter
at Atheneum Square North. The museum offers assisted listening devices during visits.
American Sign Language interpreters may be available with three weeks advance
registration. Bilingual docents are available on a limited basis. To discuss and reserve
any of these services, please contact the Group Visit Coordinator in advance of the visit.
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OFF-SITE LUNCH OPTIONS

No indoor facilities for student lunches are available at the museum; however, several
nearby options exist. Contact the Group Visit Coordinator for more information.
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DIRECTIONS
From Springfield, MA Take I-91 South to Capitol Area Exit 29A. Take the Prospect Street
and points north: exit. Go straight at the light. At the next light, turn right onto Main
Street. Go to the next light and turn right onto Atheneum Square
North. The bus loading/unloading area is at the end of the block.
From New Haven and Take I-91 North to Capitol Area Exit 29A. Take the Prospect Street
points south: exit. Go straight at the light. At the next light, turn right onto Main
Street. Go to the next light and turn right onto Atheneum Square
North. The bus loading/unloading area is at the end of the block.
From New York and Take I-84 East to Capitol Avenue Exit 48B. Turn left on Capitol
points west: Avenue. Follow to the end of Capitol Avenue, then turn left on Main
Street. The museum is on the right, two blocks up. At the intersection
just past the museum, turn right onto Atheneum Square North. The
bus loading/unloading area is at the end of the block.
From Boston and Take I-84 West to Exit 54 (left exit, Downtown Hartford). After coming
points east: across Founders Bridge, turn left at the first light onto Columbus
Boulevard. At the 3rd light, turn right on Arch Street. Go to the 2nd light
and turn right onto Atheneum Square North. The bus
loading/unloading area is at the end of the block.
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 CHAPERONE REQUIREMENTS

Chaperone requirements exist to maintain a safe environment and ensure a quality

experience for your students and others in the museum as well as to protect the works of
art. Chaperones may include teachers, school staff or adult family members
accompanying the students on their visit.
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CHAPERONES PER STUDENT

Teacher-guided visits: One teacher or chaperone per 10 students

Docent-guided visits: One teacher or chaperone per 15 students

Pre-K, summer camp, and

summer school visits: One teacher or chaperone per seven students

Groups arriving without the required numbers of chaperones will not be admitted.
Groups must remain together with their teachers and chaperones. Chaperones must
accompany groups visiting The Museum Shop. Museum staff reserves the right to
discontinue a tour and/or remove individuals from the galleries if the safety of others or
of artworks is in question.
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MUSEUM BEHAVIOR

• Never touch a work of art; maintain about 3-feet distance from all artworks.
• Do not lean on walls.
• Do not run.
• No food, beverages, candy or gum is allowed.
• Photography requires a pass from Security.
• Large bags and coats must be left in the coatroom. Free lockers are available for
storage.
• Use pencil (no pens) in the galleries.
• Sketching in the galleries requires a pass from Security.
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LETTER TO ALL CHAPERONES

Educators planning group visits are responsible for establishing expectations for their
chaperones. We suggest you print the letter on the next page and distribute it to all
chaperones accompanying your group, including fellow teachers.
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Dear Chaperone:

We are pleased to welcome you and your students. Thank you for taking the time out of
your busy schedule to make this visit possible. Please know that your role is critical to
the success of your visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
 AS A CHAPERONE, YOUR ROLE IS TO:
• Maintain discipline and be a role model for good behavior
• Ensure students remain together as a group
• Accompany your group at all times, including to the Museum Shop and the
restrooms
• Ensure students follow museum rules:
o Never touch a work of art; maintain about 3-feet distance from all artworks
o Do not lean on walls, and do not run in the museum
o No food, beverages, candy or gum is allowed
o Photography requires a pass from Security
o Large bags and coats must be left in the coatroom. Free lockers are available
for storage.
o Use pencil (no pens) in the galleries
o Obtain a pass from Security prior to any sketching

Enjoy your visit!

Dear Chaperone:

We are pleased to welcome you and your students. Thank you for taking the time out of
your busy schedule to make this visit possible. Please know that your role is critical to
the success of your visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

AS A CHAPERONE, YOUR ROLE IS TO:

• Maintain discipline and be a role model for good behavior
• Ensure students remain together as a group
• Accompany your group at all times, including to the Museum Shop and the
restrooms
• Ensure students follow museum rules:
o Never touch a work of art; maintain about 3-feet distance from all artworks
o Do not lean on walls, and do not run in the museum
o No food, beverages, candy or gum is allowed
o Photography requires a pass from Security
o Large bags and coats must be left in the coatroom. Free lockers are available
for storage.
o Use pencil (no pens) in the galleries
o Obtain a pass from Security prior to any sketching

Enjoy your visit!

 WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR DOCENT-LED TOUR

Docent-led tours emphasize interactive discussion, engaging art-based looking skills and
critical thinking. Docents focus on a limited number of objects (5 – 10) during the tour so
that students have time to make quality observations, draw connections to deeper
meaning and take a critical stance.
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ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR SELF-GUIDED TOURS

In order to share the gallery space fairly with other museum guests and group tours, we
ask that educators and their students follow these basic guidelines, in addition to those
established for all group visits:

• Be aware that other groups may be using the same galleries. If another group
appears to be waiting to view the same artwork as your group, please try to
accommodate them.
• The acoustics vary from gallery to gallery. Please be mindful by using the
appropriate tone of voice.
• Respect other patrons in our galleries.
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 MAY WE RECOMMEND…
While the following arrangements are not required for school visits, they can improve the
experience immensely!

• Preview the Museum

Visit the museum personally to become familiar with us before your student visit.
Complimentary passes are made available to teachers who have scheduled a group
visit. Contact the Group Visit Coordinator to arrange for one.

• Preview the Museum with Your Students

Contact the Group Visit Coordinator to arrange a loan of our 7-minute introductory
video, “A Museum for All Ages”. Designed for elementary and middle school
audiences, this video familiarizes students with types of art and related vocabulary
and briefly reviews guidelines for museum behavior.

• Nametags
The tour experience can be improved if docents can address your students by their
names. Give name tags to each student on the tour, or have students make their
own.

• Pre-visit Materials
A complimentary packet of materials designed to help teachers make useful
connections to their curricula in the areas of art, social studies, and English language
arts is available for SELECT exhibitions. Packets include text and color
reproductions. In addition, a resource poster is available in the annual School &
Teacher Programs brochure. Contact Teacher Programs for a list of available
curriculum materials.
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THANK YOU

Thank you for thinking of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and making the effort
to bring your students to visit. The staff in the Education Department is here to assist you
in making your visit an enjoyable one. Please feel free to call on us if we can be of help.
Have a wonderful visit!
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