School Programs

The Aldrich partners with preschools, elementary, middle, and high schools, universities, community groups, and home-schooled individuals to collaborate on virtual programs and offer digital resources.

School Tours

Schedule a guided tour of The Aldrich for your students, facilitated by our Museum Educators!

We offer participatory tours to explore our current exhibitions while addressing a variety of learning goals, incorporating best practices in museum education to foster learning for all ages and abilities.

Tour rates begin at $8 per student, with the option to add a Studio Activity for an additional $7 per student. We offer free visits for Title 1 Schools.

Choose from Three Styles of Tours – any of which can be tailored to your interests!

Contemporary What?
Our most popular tour! An introduction to contemporary art through the Museum's current exhibitions, focused on visual literacy and creative expression – great for first-time visitors and those interested in a guided visit.

ArtWrite
An investigation into the Museum’s current exhibitions through creative writing and design-based activities that build critical thinking and communication.

STEAM
A focused approach to the connections between the Museum’s current exhibitions and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art (+ Design), and Math.

+ Add-on Studio Activity (+$7 per student)
Enhance your students’ learning experience with a guided, hands-on art-making activity, inspired by the materials and processes in our current exhibitions and facilitated in our Museum Studio. The Studio Activity can be added onto any tour type for an additional cost per student.

Please fill out the below form to request more information on School Tours:

First Name

Last Name

School/Organization

School/Organization Address

School/Organization Phone

Grade/Year

Student Ages

Does your school receive Title I funding?

Yes

Please select the tour type for your group:

Contemporary What?

ArtWrite

STEAM

Would you like to add a Studio Activity to this tour experience? (Additional $7 per student)

Yes

Please describe any curriculum connections that you would like us to incorporate into this tour.

How many students will be attending?

How many teachers/chaperones will be accompanying the students?

Please list preferred dates and times for this tour here.

Does anyone in your party have sensory triggers, learning differences, or questions regarding accessibility that you would like to share with Museum Staff?

Learning Residency

The Aldrich offers a nationally recognized program called Common Ground, where artists, students, and teachers share an immersive residency experience that fosters collaboration, creativity, and dialogue centered on social justice. This programs can be tailored to homeschool groups, learning pods, or traditional classroom settings. Email aldrichedu@thealdrich.org to learn more.

Professional Development

Book a Professional Development Workshop at The Aldrich for your team, facilitated by our Museum Education staff!

Workshops are 1.5 hours, with the option of adding a 1-hour private meeting for your teachers in our Museum Studio.

We offer professional development workshops designed specifically for K-12 educators and other professional groups, in collaboration with area school districts and inspired by the Museum’s Current Exhibitions.

During these workshops, participants will look closely at contemporary works of art, participate in in-gallery activities, engage in studio art-making, and develop teaching materials to bring back to the classroom. The Aldrich actively consults with professionals in neurodivergent teaching practices and continually adopts methods to incorporate learning strategies for diverse populations.

Previous workshop themes have included:

Art Across Disciplines
Activating Student Engagement
Mindfulness in the Classroom
Creativity under Constraints

Kindly note:
We request a minimum reservation notice of two weeks before your scheduled PD date. A 50% deposit payment plus booking fees is required at the time of booking to secure your date.

Please fill out the below form to request more information on Professional Development Workshops:

First Name

Last Name

Phone

School/Organization

School/Organization Address

Does your school receive Title I funding?

Yes

How many educators will be attending?

Department(s)

Grade level(s)

Please list preferred dates and times for your Professional Development experience here.

Would you like to add a 1-hour private meeting for your educators in our Museum Studio?

Yes

Does anyone in your party have sensory triggers, learning differences, or questions regarding accessibility that you would like to share with Museum Staff?

How did you hear about us?

Funders

Generous support for Education and Public Programs is provided by Bank of America; Connecticut Humanities; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; The Cowles Charitable Trust; David T. Langrock Foundation; Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts; Fairfield County Bank; Gage Fund; Goldstone Family Foundation; The Leir Foundation; Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation; Ridgefield Thrift Shop; and Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.