From toddlers to adults, the Everson gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy, learn and connect with art through a variety of free docent-led tours. Choose from one of our many thematic tours or take a general tour of the permanent collection or temporary exhibitions. All tours are also available in French or Spanish.

Planning a Tour

• Private Docent-led tours are available Monday–Friday, 9.00am–noon.
• Afternoon and weekend tours are available on a limited basis
• Tours last one hour unless other arrangements are made
• Group size is limited to 50 people
• Larger groups may reserve two consecutive sessions
• Kindly make tour reservations at least two weeks in advance
• If you plan to have students draw or write in the galleries please let us know; please note: only #2 pencils are allowed in galleries
• We ask that students in school tours arrive at the Museum with name tags
• We cannot accommodate unscheduled tours prior to regular Museum hours

To schedule a tour contact Amy Goodall-Ayres, Manager of Education and Community Partnerships, (315) 474 6064 or agoodall@everson.org.

Please have the following information ready when you call to arrange a tour: 

• Date and time preferred
• Group Size
• Contact Person
• Address, phone number, email
• Special requirements (wheelchairs, drawing in galleries, etc)
• Age/grade of school children
• Educational objectives (related curricula or areas of study)

Tour Options

Permanent Collection

The Everson Museum of Art features the works of American artists from the 18th century to the present, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and video. In addition, the Syracuse China Center for the Study of Ceramics provides open-storage galleries for the Everson’s world-renown ceramic collection.

Architecture

The Everson's Architecture Tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at our largest work of art: the museum's renowned building designed by internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei. The Everson, commissioned in 1962, was Pei's first museum and launched his career as a museum architect. Over the course of his career, Pei has designed over 35 museums and exhibition spaces throughout the world including the Pyramide du Louvre (Paris, France), National Gallery's East Wing (Washington, DC), the J.F. Kennedy Library (Boston, MA), Sainsbury Wing - National Gallery (London, England) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum (Cleveland, Ohio).

Ceramic Study Center

The Syracuse China Center for the Study of Ceramics is arranged chronologically by culture, and includes examples from the ancient classical world, the Americas, Asia and Europe, as well as American clay sculptures and vessels. An Introduction Center provides a video and catalogue viewing station, activity guide and selected pieces reproduced for hands-on
experience.

Visual Thinking Strategies

Visual Thinking Strategies tours provide an inquiry-based approach to looking at art. Docents guide visitors through facilitated discussions about selected narrative-based works of art.

Outreach

The purpose of the Everson Museum of Art Outreach program is to strengthen the presence of the Everson in the community and increase access to the visual arts to those that may otherwise be unable to visit the Museum. The program provides quality educational experiences, based on the mission of the Everson Museum of Art, to increase the audiences' understanding and appreciation of the arts, and to promote lifelong learning.

Who do we visit?
Our trained docents visit a diverse range of groups, including senior centers, hospitals, libraries, and K-12 schools.

How much does it cost?
Outreach programs are free although donations to the museum are accepted.

Programs
Highly trained guides, also known as docents, will visit your facility with prepared presentations, tactile objects and hands-on activities. Docents are knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic, and act as a link between the Museum and the community. They receive extensive professional development that enables them to engage audiences of all ages, making every program a stimulating and memorable experience. Programs generally last for one hour, but can be modified to accommodate specific needs.

Art Talks:
Presentations cover a range of topics including the history of the Everson, architecture, and highlight the museums collection and temporary traveling exhibits. The collection includes works by American artists from the 18th century to the present, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, and the Everson's world-renown international ceramic collection.

Art Making:
Activities combine art making with discussion about art and artists from the Museum's permanent collection and traveling exhibitions. The activities give participants the opportunity to explore a variety of media including, clay, painting collage and more. Art making activities are limited in size to allow maximum individual attention.

Visual Thinking Strategies:
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an opened ended discussion about art and is used to teach critical thinking, communication skills, and visual literacy and provides an inquiry-based approach to looking at art.

How to arrange a visit?
Visits are available September through June and Monday through Friday beginning at 10.00am. Please note that all programs are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. Therefore we encourage you to call 2-3 weeks in advance of the requested program date so that we may best accommodate your needs.

To schedule your visit please contact Kimberly A. Griffiths, Associate Curator of Education and Public Programs at (315) 474-6064 x310 or kgriffiths@everson.org.

Please have the following information available when scheduling an outreach program:

• Date and time preferred
• Group size
• Contact person
• Preferred program format