SBMA Field Trips

Fall Artful Thinking: Museum Tours of The Impressionist Revolution and Encore!

October 2025 – January 2026

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10:30 – 11:15

Grades 4 – 12

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition with The Impressionist Revolution. Students will explore how these once-radical artists reshaped modern art through guided discussions and close looking.

SBMA teaching methods support student growth in observation, communication, and creative thinking.

*Max 30 students/session, no exceptions. Please email mkemper@sbma.net for questions or sign your larger group up for the Spring Artful Thinking tour. 

Spring Artful Thinking: SBMA Highlights Tours

February – May 2026

Thursdays: 11 – 11:45 am or 12 – 12:45 pm

Select Wednesdays starting October 22: 12 – 12:45 pm

Grades 2 – 12

Students engage in close looking and dynamic discussion during this docent-led gallery tour. Through conversation and comparison, students build observation and critical thinking skills while connecting art to everyday life. Each visit encourages thoughtful dialogue and visual literacy.

SBMA teaching methods support student growth in observation, communication, and creative thinking.

*Max 50 students

Mindful Looking and Making

February – May 2026

Select Fridays: 11 – Noon or 12:15 – 1:15 pm

Grades 4 –12

Bring your students to a guided meditation led by Dr. Vivian Valentin (www.kindmindsantabarbara.org/) centered on a single artwork in the galleries. Students then reflect through artmaking, creating original work inspired by the themes explored. The experience supports emotional awareness, focus, and creative expression.

This program combines art and mindfulness practices to reduce stress, create empathy, foster kindness, and empower students beyond their visit. Contact School Programs Manager Molly Kemper at mkemper@sbma.net for details.

*Max one class per session.

Artful Making

October 2025 - May 2026

Tuesdays: 10:30 – 11:45 am or 11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Select Wednesdays: 11 am – 12:15 pm

Grades 2 – 8

This hybrid, hands-on alternative to the traditional docent tour invites students to make art and look at art in a single visit. Students begin with a 30-minute creative project that reinforces what they’ll see in the galleries, followed by a docent-led tour designed to spark discussion and personal connections.

From October to January, students create blind contour self-portraits inspired by portraits in the Museum’s collection; from February to May, projects explore ancient cultures including Mesoamerica and Asia. 

Note: Fall 2025 Artful Making tours do not include the Impressionist Revolution exhibition.

*Max 30 students/session, no exceptions.

Young At Art

October 2025– May 2026

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10 – 11:30 am

Select Thursdays in 2026 only: 11:30 – 1 pm

Grades TK – 1

Designed for our youngest learners, explore the elements of art—line, color, shape/form, texture, and space—with an SBMA Teaching Artist. TK-1st grade students are introduced to the Museum in this 1.5 hour presentation, beginning with an interactive PowerPoint presentation and hands-on art activity, and concluding with a 30 minute gallery tour with a docent.

SBMA teaching methods support student growth in observation, communication, and creative thinking.

*Max 30 students/session

Fridays in Focus: Thematic Tours for Junior High and High School

January – May 2026

Select Fridays: 11 am – 12:30 pm

Grades 7 – 12

The first Friday of select months, junior high and high school students are invited to dive deeper into the Museum’s collection through a dynamic, theme-based tour. Led by SBMA educators, visiting artists, or specialists, each session blends art, discussion, and creative thinking in a multidisciplinary format. Whether exploring identity, activism, or visual storytelling, students are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, and see art through a new lens.

Dates and themes:

January 9: Careers in Museums

February 6: Art as Activism

March 6: Art and Climate Change

April 10: Art and Poetry

Contact School Programs Manager Molly Kemper at mkemper@sbma.net for details.