Skip to main content

We use cookies and tags on our website to provide you with a better website experience, advertising based on your browsing habits, and to understand what our website is being used for, and for statistics and measurement purposes. By clicking ‘I Accept’, or clicking on our website, you agree to such purposes and the sharing of your data with our trusted partners.
For further information, please read Privacy Policy.

NMWA School Programs – Programs Held at the NMWA
＊in Japanese only

Throughout the year, the NMWA presents art appreciation programming aimed at schools of all types, from kindergarten to primary school, middle school, high school, university, and special needs schools. Based on each school group’s aims for their visit, we arrange for school group gallery talks, activities using an activity book, orientation sessions, or visits to museum workplaces. In discussions with teachers prior to their visit, we hear from them about the school’s wishes for the visit and the types of students involved. Cooperation between school and the NMWA is based in the shared goal of making the museum visit experience memorable for each participating student.

School Gallery Talks

Visiting groups are divided into groups of ten or less to participate in dialogue-based gallery talks. Each talk features three works of art in the Permanent Collection Galleries, with 15 minutes for viewing and discussing each work. Depending on the artwork, the viewing experience can include the participants moving around, using viewing tools, all with an emphasis on independently appreciating the artwork. Volunteer Staff members accompany each group to provide support.
To make the visit enjoyable for all participants, including those on a first-ever visit to an art museum, we provide highlight tours, choosing works of art from different periods and in various genres from the Permanent Collection Galleries display. Each group in a school visit looks at different works.

写真
Program Dates Tuesdays through Fridays, except on public holidays and when the museum is closed
Number of participants Up to 60
Gallery talk length About 45 minutes
Program example Toilet break, line up, greetings (15 minutes) -- ＞ Gallery talk about 3 works (45 minutes) -- ＞ Independent viewing in the galleries (30 minutes)
Location Permanent Collection Galleries (These Gallery Talks are not conducted in the Special Exhibition Wing)

NMWA Activity Book: 100 Ways to Enjoy an Art Museum

This Activity Book is a compilation of different activities that enhance participants’ enjoyment and experience of the NMWA Permanent Collection Galleries and the Museum's architecture. Each participant can write their own thoughts about the artworks they like as they view them. This Activity Book encourages participants to enjoy looking carefully and slowly at the works on display.
Please use the link below to download and print the PDF version of the Activity Book. Pre-printed booklet format Activity Books will also be given to participants during School Gallery Talks and School Slide Talks.

image
Program Example (90 minutes) Move to the Auditorium, toilet break, distribute booklets (15 minutes) -- ＞ Orientation (30 minutes) -- ＞ Use the books to independently view works of art (40 minutes)
Please Note No application or reservation is needed to download the PDF version. However, please refrain from distributing this PDF version or its printouts to those outside of schools.
For those who would like the booklet version distributed during a School Gallery Talk or School Slide Talk session, please add that information to your application for these programs.

School Slide Talks

For school groups of over 60 participants, we hold a slide talk orientation in the Auditorium. The children answer questions from the NMWA Education Department staff members as they view the works of art in slides. All participants look at the same artwork slides. These slide talks feature works from both the Permanent Collection Galleries and the Special Exhibition currently on display.

Participants 60 or more.
Slide talk length About 40 minutes
Sample session Arrive at Auditorium, toilet break, line up (10 minutes) -- ＞ Orientation (40 minutes) -- ＞ Independent viewing in the galleries (40 minutes)
Location Auditorium

Museum Visits for Extracurricular Activities

This program provides interviews with staff members working at the NMWA. Please send the questions you would like to ask to the Education Department two weeks before your scheduled visit. As there are many students who have never visited an art museum before, if time allows, we will also take them to view two or three works of art in the Permanent Collection Galleries.

Time required About 40 minutes
Location Galleries and other areas

Visits by Special Needs School Students

We also conduct programs for special category schools, such as schools for students who are blind, deaf, autistic, or developmentally disabled. Depending on the particular needs and interests of the students and the school’s aims for the visit, we can arrange for tactile experience sessions with artwork replicas and models.

Application Procedure

Please see this page (in Japanese).

Admission Fees

Permanent Collection Galleries
Free admission for high school and younger students and their accompanying teaching staff.
Special Exhibitions
Free admission for kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and special needs school students and their accompanying teaching staff.

Please see this page for information on visiting the museum for gallery viewing without specific program planning.

FAQ

QWhat kind of art will we see?
AWe will select NMWA Permanent Collection Gallery works of art from different periods and media types that will be interesting to children visiting an art museum for the first time.
QIs there somewhere we can have a meal?
AUnfortunately, we have no facilities for group meals. Please look for a place in the area for your group to eat lunch. Also, there are only two water dispensers in the museum. For visits in the summer, please bring your own water bottles.
QIs there somewhere we can leave our extra belongings?
APlease bring as few extra items as possible. There is no cloak room for group use. We can arrange for your group's extra belongings to be checked into temporary luggage storage as one check-in group. Please indicate the need for baggage handling when you make reservations for your programs.
QCan we take notes or sketch?
AOnly pencils can be used in the galleries. Mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens, erasers, and other tools cannot be used in the galleries. Notes cannot be taken during School Gallery Talk sessions.
QCan we take photographs of the children?
ASchool staff members can take commemorative photographs in the galleries. However, flash photography and tripods are not allowed. Please avoid taking photos of other visitors, and of works of art which have marks indicating no photographs allowed. The person photographing must wear an arm band indicating they are an approved photographer. Please ask a NMWA staff member for a band.

Art Viewing Programs
(for university and older students, by advance reservation only)

This program allows participants to view NMWA collection prints without their frames. These sessions allow students to slowly and carefully look at works of art, seeing how line quality differs depending on the technique used, how the artist varied their expression, and the information that can only be gained through close examination of the paper surface.

This program is only held occasionally. Please continue to check the NMWA website for future program scheduling announcements.