FAQs
How do I know when my tour is confirmed?
You will receive an e-mail when the Museum education department has received your submitted tour request form. When we have approved the tour, you will receive a second e-mail confirming your tour. The second e-mail will also include teacher and chaperone guidelines and a behavioral agreement to sign and e-mail back to the Museum.Please contact the Education Assistant at 503-276-4248 or sara.dewaay@pam.org if you have to add or reduce student numbers or cancel your tour. To avoid paying the $25.00 cancellation fee, you must provide 72 hours notice for all cancellations.
What If I have to cancel or make attendance changes?Once processed, funds cannot be returned to cover low attendance or a missed tour. We will try to reschedule your group.
Are there refunds or exchanges?If you have more students than a gallery can hold, we urge you to bring your group in on two different days. If this is not possible, you may either schedule your students into two different galleries at the same time or schedule them consecutively and plan to have half your group wait in a location outside the Museum (park blocks, bus, library, etc.) for each hour long tour.
what if i have more students than the gallery i want to tour will allow?Due to space restrictions and to create meaningful experiences for your students, the Museum cannot accommodate all tour requests. We have done our best to meet teacher, docent, and education staff needs.
What if I need to see a certain gallery at a certain time but it isn't listed as an option?Both docent and self-guided tours last one hour. We ask that you have your students divided into groups before you arrive so your tour can begin promptly. For more information, see the teacher guidelines document in your confirmation e-mail.
How long is the tour?All school groups should enter at the Hoffman entrance. This is the side entrance located next to the sculpture court.
Where do we enter the museum for our tour?Docents try to engage students in discussion in the galleries. Name tags with first names only are helpful for elementary students.
Do we need name tags?
Are cameras allowed?No cameras are permitted in the Museum.
Where do we eat lunch?The Museum does not have a lunchroom. The downtown park blocks, located just across the street, offer park benches and grassy areas.
May we bring our things in the galleries?Limited storage is available for jackets. We recommend that backpacks and electronics be left on the bus or at school. Pencils only are allowed in the galleries; clipboards are recommended for written projects during chaperone led self-guided tours. We ask that students do not bring assignments on docent led tours.
What if we arrive late?Please call the Education Assistant at 503-276-4248 if you think you will be late. When your group arrives, ask students to stay on the bus while an adult checks in with a volunteer or docent. Museum staff will work your group into the schedule as soon as possible. If you do arrive late, the Museum cannot guarantee a full tour, as it is dependant on the schedule for the rest of the day. There are no early entries.
Where do buses park?Drop off and pick up students in front of the Museum on SW Park Avenue and Madison Avenue. There is designated parking for buses five blocks west of the Museum across from Lincoln High School: turn right on Jefferson; proceed five blocks; turn right on 14th; park in designated bus zone.
What is the best public transportation option?Plan your trip at trimet.org. There is a MAX stop convenient to the Museum and the TriMet Bus Mall is three blocks away.
General Information
Policies
- All bags, parcels, food/beverage items, and long umbrellas must be checked in
- No photography
- No food or drink in the galleries or auditorium
- No touching any art
- Cell phones should be turned OFF (not down) upon entry
Accessibility
All Museum galleries, rest rooms, and drinking fountains are wheelchair accessible. The access ramp and side entrance to the Museum for both wheelchairs and strollers is located down the street to the right of the main entrance.
Location
The Museum is located in downtown Portland at 1219 SW Park Avenue. The school group entrance is on the north side of the Museum’s red brick building at Madison and Park Avenue, near the Shop and outdoor sculpture garden. Directions
