School-to-Museum
With an ever-changing exhibition schedule, our education focus is to teach your students visual literacy and critical thinking skills through our School-to-Museum Program. When exploring the art of our time at MOCA, students come face to face with real objects made by living artists, not reproductions found in books or slides. Through lively, facilitated group discussions, students work collaboratively to understand the art on view and the ideas behind it.

When you schedule a tour, one or more docents will be assigned to your group. Our docents are volunteer museum educators who have been specially trained to tour MOCA exhibitions. Docents engage students in active looking, beginning the conversation with open-ended questions, then skillfully weaving the ideas and observations made by the group into the larger context of central exhibition themes.



Educators' Guide
MOCA Educators' Guide aims to provide teachers with tools for integrating contemporary art into the classroom curriculum. Each guide highlights central themes for current exhibitions, general museum objectives for teachers and students, activities and in-depth lessons connected to the exhibition themes, web and print resources, and images for the classroom. Ohio Academic Content Standards for grades 6 – 10 in Visual Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science are incorporated throughout the guide to assist teachers in linking their curricula with the art on view. MOCA offers these curriculum guides free of charge for educators scheduling tours of MOCA's exhibitions.



Open Houses
Each October and again in February, the MOCA Education department hosts this event especially for area teachers to learn about the exhibition from education staff, museum curators, or regional art professionals. Teachers have the opportunity to tour the exhibitions, learn about Visual Thinking Strategies, receive a MOCA Educators' Guide, collaborate with other area teachers, and discover ways to integrate contemporary art into your classroom. Always free for educators, this biannual event includes refreshments and a fun, creative atmosphere.

To find out dates and details about upcoming Educator Events, visit our Events page.

K-12 Group Tours
Docent-led tours for all school groups are always free and offered Tuesday through Friday, 10:30 am through 4pm. Self-guided tours are welcome and also free of charge. Reservations are required for all tours and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.

To further explore the central themes of each exhibition, a post-tour make-and-take art activity is available for groups with children aged 4 – 10. Space is limited and a fee of $25 per 15 students applies.

Plan your tour here

View images of tours on Flickr

Transportation Assistance
School groups that would like to visit MOCA but do not have resources for transportation may be eligible for financial assistance. Funds are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis, so inquire early. Contact Nicole Ledinek, Curator of Education at 216.421.8671 ext. 41 to learn if your school qualifies.

Additional Resources
Interested in engaging contemporary art in your classroom teaching but can't make it to MOCA as often as you would like? Our Education Department will work with you to find the best solution for you and your students.

Educators wishing to preview the exhibitions to consider curricular connections or a possible classroom visit may do so for FREE by calling in advance or presenting a school I.D. at our Visitors Services Desk.

Still have questions? Contact Nicole Ledinek, Curator of Education at 216.421.8671 ext. 41 or send an e-mail.