Recently, the Georgia Museum of Art revised its backpack tour program(opens in new tab), which is free for all museum visitors. The museum strives to bring people (safely) closer to art through these interactive, self-guided tours for all ages. Currently offered in English and Spanish, the backpacks are available at the museum’s front desk (just ask the gallery guide on duty for one) and provide different activities to do at each tour stop.
These backpack tours allow visitors the immersive experience of a guided tour while going at their own pace. The tours guide you through the museum’s permanent collection with activities along the way. They highlight four works in particular but also include activities that can be done with any work of the visitor’s choosing. Each backpack includes an activity sheet for families to fill out and take home as a souvenir from their visit. There are drawing materials included as well, should a visitor feel inspired to make their own creation. Drawings and activity cards can be brought home or left in the backpack for the next person to see your work.
Because the tours are self-guided, visitors can take as long as they want at each stop and even return to finish the tour another time. “I’m excited for families to use our backpack tours,” said associate curator of education Sage Kincaid. “They are a fun way to explore the galleries at your own pace and provide great prompts and activities for looking at and talking about art together.”
The program will expand this spring with a science, technology, English, art and math (STEAM) tour. This tour will explore how artists use these various disciplines in problem solving and creative thinking.
By Danielle Davis
