Welcome to the transformed Portland Art Museum! We have completed a major expansion and renovation project that makes our campus more accessible and welcoming to all.
We offer Guided and Self-Guided K-12 Group visits Tuesdays through Fridays except during Museum free days and holidays. Guided visits offer up to one hour of interactive, student-centered experiences that include close looking, discussion, sketching, and more. Please see the FAQ for more information.
Self-Guided K-12 group visits are led and managed by the teacher who makes the reservation. It is possible to stay for Self-Guided time following a Guided visit.
Please submit all reservation requests at least two weeks in advance of the visit date.
K-12 students, teachers, chaperones, and aides receive FREE admission with advance registration. K-12 transportation reimbursement is available whenever these costs are a barrier to access. Please email your estimated costs to groups@pam.org.
Group size per reservation: Minimum of 6 students. Maximum of 50 students for Self-Guided groups and 60 students for Guided groups.
Adult to student ratio: The Museum requests a 1:10 ratio for high school groups and all Guided Visits. 1:6 ratio for K-8 Self-Guided Visits. We recommend additional adults for very young students. Please let us know if you expect to have fewer adults in your group. We’re glad to work with you!
The standard group visit duration is 1 hour. You are welcome to stay longer, but please make space for subsequent groups if the galleries become crowded.
Prepare for your visit
Review our agreements and expectations in advance with all teachers, students, and chaperones.
Please divide your students into smaller groups and assign an adult to each group before you enter the museum.
School bus arrival and parking
Buses may load and unload students at the new Rothko Pavilion entrance to the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave).
Bus parking is available at Lincoln High School (1750 SW Salmon St.) between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Drivers must remain with their vehicles and be prepared to move if asked.
Entering the Museum
Upon entering the Museum, an adult should check the group in with the greeter or at the admissions desk.
PAM staff will show you to the school bag storage area on Level 0, off the Silver Family Youth and Community Gallery.
Homeschool groups
We welcome homeschool groups through the K-12 school reservation system. We ask you to observe the same guidelines as other school groups, including the six-student minimum. Please include no more than one adult for every six children, unless the students are very young.
Resources
Find out about the exhibitions on view and explore the Poster Project and other free resources for pre- and post-visit learning.
Looking for an indoor lunch room? We are grateful to Portland State University for making the Smith Memorial Student Union (1825 SW Broadway) available to school groups. Outdoor space is available on the Museum’s west plaza and on the Park Avenue blocks.
Interested in extending your time downtown? Contact these nearby museums to schedule a visit: Oregon Historical Society, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Portland Chinatown Museum.
Questions? Contact groups@pam.org.