Education – South Dakota Art Museum

SDAM School Tour group doing Visual Thinking Strategies discussion of artwork
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Group Tour
Group Tours and Field Trips

The South Dakota Art Museum offers many opportunities for adults and students to learn about art, history, culture and much more. We can tailor experiences to align with content standards from all major educational subjects and your group's interests.

To schedule tours or learn more about our educational opportunities, contact Abigail Ramsbottom, education curator/coordinator.

Learn More About Tours
Choose Your Experience

We offer free field trips, and we continue to look for ways to make teaching and integrating art enjoyable. There are three different kinds of field trip opportunities:

Museum Tour (30 minutes)

This tour is great for teachers who want their students to see multiple venues at South Dakota State University. A tour guide will briefly show students around the current exhibitions.

Visual Thinking Strategies Museum Tour (60 minutes)

This tour will take a more in-depth approach to looking at art. A trained docent will facilitate a visual thinking strategies conversation, which aims to develop communication skills, aesthetic understanding and a deeper appreciation of art.

Visual Thinking Strategies Museum Tour and Artmaking (90 minutes)

This tour provides everything that has been previously mentioned, while also giving students the opportunity to make art in the lower level of the museum. We offer a variety of arts activities from painting and drawing to printmaking and collage.

Virtual Field Trips

Calling all educators! Are you ready to spark creativity in your classroom? Our Virtual Field Trip program brings the South Dakota Art Museum directly to your students, no matter where you are.

Here's what you can expect:

  • Art supplies delivered: We'll send a package filled with art supplies right to your school's doorstep, so your students can get hands-on with their creativity.
  • Interactive art activity: Our experienced museum educators will guide your students through an engaging art activity, exploring techniques and themes inspired by our collections.
  • Virtual artist talk: Immerse your students in the world of art with a Cultivating Creativity virtual interview of a South Dakota artist in the museum's collection.
  • Free for schools: Best of all, this program is completely free for schools! Simply register your classroom online at least two weeks in advance to secure your spot.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to bring the arts into your classroom in a whole new way. Generous support for this project is provided by Art Bridges.

Education Opportunities

South Dakota Arts Council Excursion Grants

The provides matching funds to South Dakota organizations to assist in transportation costs for taking K-12 students and persons with disabilities traveling to the South Dakota Art Museum for field trips.

Internships

The South Dakota Art Museum is pleased to offer paid opportunities for qualified graduate and undergraduate students. Based on a system of supervised learning, the internships enable students to understand how a museum operates and how to relate this experience to academic and professional goals.

Faculty Scholar

South Dakota Art Museum Scholar Program is designed to enhance scholarship and research opportunities for faculty and facilitate greater utilization of the collection and resources of the museum for scholarship purposes.

To schedule tours or learn more, contact:
Contact Us
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South Dakota Art Museum
Physical Address
1036 Medary Ave.
Brookings, SD 57007
Mailing Address
South Dakota Art Museum, Box 2250
Brookings, SD 57007
Hours
Mon - Fri: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sat: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sun: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Closed: Sundays January-March and all State Holidays

Museum Parking: Just west of the museum on Harvey Dunn Street (926 Harvey Dunn St. on GPS). Check in at the front desk for a parking pass.
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