Teachers of grades K-12 are welcome to independently lead students through the galleries at the Getty Villa. We have grade-specific activity packets for your visit (see Visit Activities), or you can create your own lessons.
Please read the information below before filling out the request form.
Scheduling Your Visit
School Visits at the Getty are FREE and are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Self-Guided Visits to the Getty Villa are available between September 5, 2013, and June 30, 2014, for up to 120 students in grades K–12. Submit your request online, or print out a Request Form and mail it in. A maximum of two requests will be accommodated per school.
Q: What if I want to bring a group that is larger than 120 students?
You should submit two applications for two groups. The groups will be scheduled to visit on separate days.
Q: May I make a school group reservation over the phone?
Due to the high volume of school requests and the number of details we must collect, we need you to fill out the form.
Q: I am bringing more/fewer students than I indicated on my request form. How do I make a change?
To modify attendance on an existing reservation, please call (310) 440-7322 and speak with a school group associate.
Q: I don't want a tour. Do I have to make a reservation?
Reservations through the School Visits program are required for all school groups.
Confirmation
Within 8 weeks of submitting your request, you will receive a confirmation letter indicating how your group can be accommodated. If you have any questions or have not received a confirmation letter after 8 weeks, please call (310) 440-7322 and speak with a school group associate.
Q: What if you cannot accommodate my requested date?
We make every attempt to contact you by phone to offer alternative dates. We will leave voicemail messages, so please be sure to provide contact information so we can reach you.
Q: Why wasn't my visit booked for the date/time/lesson format I indicated as my first choice?
All applications are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. If you select more than one option on your request form, it is possible that you will be assigned to any one of those options.
Chaperones must divide students into small groups of 15 or fewer and are responsible for monitoring and accompanying students at all times during their visit.
Only one self-guided group is allowed in a particular gallery at a time—each group must tour independently.
Q: What responsibilities do chaperones have?
All chaperones are responsible for monitoring student behavior and making sure the group stays together.
Q: Is there a maximum number for chaperones?
All chaperones are responsible for monitoring student behavior and making sure the group stays together.
Q: Do I really need chaperones for my high school students? They are practically adults.
All school groups in grades K–12 must be accompanied by a non-student adult age 18 or older for safety and security purposes. If students are found wandering the sites without adequate chaperones, they will be confronted by Security and not be permitted to enter the galleries.
Before Your Visit
In preparation, please do the following activities with your students in the classroom before your visit:
Q: Will clipboards and pencils be available for my visit?
Pick up clipboards and pencils in the designated School Group Area when you arrive. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. Please return all materials after use so that the next school group may use them.
Villa Visit Activities
To help you plan your Self-Guided Visit, we provide materials online: Visit Activities
Q: Can my students have a tour of particular exhibit or display?
Any exhibit may be the topic for your tour. Due to capacity limitations in each gallery, only one group of 15 students is allowed in a particular gallery at a time. Learn about exhibitions currently on view.
Family Forum
For grades K–8, the Getty Villa's Family Forum, a hands-on discovery space devoted to learning about Greek vases, can add an interactive component to your Self-Guided Visit. Reservations for school groups are required.
GettyGuide® Multimedia Players
Teachers of students in grades 6–12 may request and reserve GettyGuide multimedia players at no cost during Self-Guided Visits on a first-come, first-served basis. Players must be reserved in advance. Learn more about GettyGuide. GettyGuide interactive multimedia content features videos, audio recordings, and detailed information about the works of art on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum. GettyGuide can be accessed on an iPod touch® at the Museum and on the Museum Collection section of this website.
Q: How do I request multimedia players?
On the request form, there is a field where you can indicate that you would like to reserve GettyGuide multimedia players. An adult must provide picture ID as collateral for the players, and will be held responsible for any missing or broken players.
Q: How many multimedia players may I reserve?
You may reserve up to 60 players.
Q: Can I preview the content on the multimedia players?
We recommend that you visit the Getty prior to your visit and use a multimedia player to pre-plan your stops. Make a free reservation by calling (310) 449-7322 and speaking with a school group associate.
Q: Are there any age restrictions for multimedia players?
Only teachers of grades 6–12 may request and reserve GettyGuide multimedia players.
Length of Visit
Please arrive on time. Arriving late will impact your visit since picnic times are scheduled at consecutively appointed times.
Q: How long will my entire visit last?
For planning purposes, estimate that your entire visit will last three hours. However, your group may stay at the Villa in small groups with chaperones as long as your schedule permits.
Q: What happens if we arrive early to the Villa?
You will be permitted to begin your Self-Guided Visit after students have been divided into their chaperoned groups.
Parking
Parking for buses is FREE at the Villa.
Chaperones arriving by car will only be admitted via timed tickets. Every person must have a ticket.
Q: How do I change my parking reservation?
Please call (310) 440-7322 and speak to a school group associate.
Q: Some chaperones want to arrive separately by car. Do they have to pay, and do they need a reservation?
There is limited parking for chaperones arriving by car. When filling out your application, make sure to use the field where you can indicate that additional chaperones will be arriving by car in order to receive accommodations.
Q: Can my students arrive by public bus to the Getty Villa?
No, all school groups must arrive by school or chartered bus or by car. Timed tickets are required for each person arriving by car.
An unsheltered, outdoor picnic area is available at the Villa for school groups to use at pre-scheduled times. Your picnic time is determined by your arrival time and is not changeable. In the event of rain, teachers are encouraged to have students eat lunch either before or after their visit.
Q: May we purchase lunches at the Getty?
Teachers can pre-order box lunches for students and chaperones with at least one week's notice. Please contact Bon Appetit's catering department at the Getty Villa at (310) 440-6213, for current prices and menus.
Q: May we change our scheduled picnic time?
No. Due to the high volume of school groups using the picnic facilities, your picnic time cannot be changed.
Q: When it rains, may we eat lunch inside at the Café at the Getty Villa?
We cannot allow school groups to eat in the Café at the Getty Villa due to fire code safety and capacity regulations. We recommend that school groups eat lunches on the bus or in the car before arrival, or after visiting the Villa.
Q: Do I have to submit an application for each location if I want to come to both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa?
Yes, two separate applications are required.
Q: Do you have programs for homeschools?
Homeschool groups of 15 students or more are welcome to request a Self-Guided Visit at the Villa. Homeschool groups must follow the same procedures and guidelines as all other school groups.
Q: My school is concerned about the appropriateness of the artwork at the Villa.
Many of the works of art at the Villa depict nudity. Everyone’s tolerance level is different. We cannot anticipate your group’s specific tolerance level, and cannot be held responsible if a student or chaperone sees something they deem offensive or inappropriate.
If you are concerned, we welcome you to make a free reservation to come see our galleries before your scheduled visit. Please call (310) 440-7322 and speak with a school group associate. We also recommend that you request a Self-Guided Visit so that you can determine the exact sequence of artworks you wish to see.
Q: What happens if we arrive late?
Please arrive on time. Arriving late will impact your visit since picnic times are scheduled at consecutively appointed times.
Q: Why didn’t I receive a free bus?
Getty bus funding for eligible Title I schools is limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Bus funding is not guaranteed and not automatic. If bus funding is available at the time you request a school visit, the online request form will provide further instructions and information.
Q: I am receiving bus funding. When will you schedule my bus?
It is the school’s responsibility to schedule transportation. If you are approved for bus funding, you will receive instructions about how to schedule your bus in the mail prior to your visit. See bus-funding guidelines for more information.
