guided tours & field trips

A TRIP TO THE IDEA PLACE
Art Museum field trips for 1st grade and beyond!

Located in the heart of downtown Fort Collins in the historic Post Office building, FCMOA, is a jewel waiting to be discovered.

A hands-on field trip combines contemporary art with an historic setting. Our two galleries offer a new exhibition every eight to twelve weeks showcasing local, regional, national, and international artists.

Enrich the minds and lives of your students by bringing them to, what may be for many, their first art museum experience!

Take a look at the current and upcoming exhibits in the Museum and get some ideas for a field trip now!

COMBINE THIS TOUR WITH OTHER FIELD TRIPS
FCMOA is only a short walk from the Fort Collins Museum and Library, and the Avery House. If you are thinking of a taking your students any place nearby, schedule your field trips back-to-back and save on busing.

A UNIQUE FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE
FCMOA welcomes students of all ages from elementary through high school and beyond. Guided visits or self-guided tours are available. There is no charge for PSD Schools visiting FCMOA. Docents will guide students through the exhibitions offering opportunities for learning in the museum setting.

All students will learn:
- about the history of the building
- about the differences between a contemporary art museum and other art museums
- museum etiquette
- skills for looking at art that can be used in any type of art museum
- about the artist's ideas behind the art on exhibit

See below for registration information.

Museum Etiquette
Never touch the art in a museum.
Always walk in a museum.
Ask the museum staff or guards if you have questions about the art.
Always talk about the ideas you get from the art!

Tips for Looking at Art
- Look for things in the artwork that help to tell a story.
  - Tell your story to a friend or write it down.
  - Listen to a friend's story about the art.
- See if the colors and lines make you feel a certain way.
  - Look for hot and cold colors. o Look for active, smooth, heavy or curvy lines.
- Look for shapes or designs that remind you of something else.
  - Ask your friends if they see the same things, or something different.
- Think about why the artist made the choices she or he made.
  - Do some choices help tell the story?
  - Do some choices help give a certain feeling?
  - Would you have made the same choices?

HOW TO REGISTER FOR YOUR FIELD TRIP
Call FCMOA at 482-2787 to schedule the field trip visit.

FCMOA will need to know:
- number of children (requires 1:5 adult:child ratio)
- preferred date, start and finish time of visit
- name and contact info of Teacher-in-charge (email, address, and phone of school)

Important information for teachers:
- Guided tours typically take about 40 minutes to see both galleries.
- Museum visits can be scheduled Tuesday - Friday, year-round, between the hours of 10am - 2pm.
- Museum visits can be scheduled for up to 60 minutes (longer for older students).
- Up to 50 students can be accommodated at once.

Questions? Contact FCMOA at 970.482.2787 or info@fcmoca.org