Step 1: Request a visit time
A reservation may be made for up to 60 students for the Summer Program in grades K–12 and 120 students for the Arts Access Program during the school year. If the number of students is larger than the daily maximum capacity, please submit separate requests for separate dates.

Scheduling FAQs

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, it is preferred to use the online request system, however if you need further assistance, please contact our School Group Reservations team at (310) 440-7322.

Q: I have more/fewer students than I indicated in my request. How do I make a change?
To modify attendance on an existing request, please call School Group Reservations at (310) 440-7322.

Q: I don't want a tour. Do I have to make a reservation?
Yes, reservations are required for all school groups. All reservations include a Guided Tour. Students are encouraged to explore the gardens with chaperones following their tour.

For a virtual visit, Guided experiences are available through our Getty Virtual Art Explorations program.

Confirmation
Due to the high volume of requests that we receive, we prioritize sending confirmations according to date of the visit requested. If you have any questions on the status of your request or you have not received a confirmation email within four weeks, please call (310) 440-7322 and speak with a K–12 groups associate.

Step 2: Recruit Chaperones
We require one teacher or adult for every 10 students. Chaperones are responsible for monitoring and accompanying students at all times during their visit, even if students are high school aged, for safety and security purposes.

Please be prepared to separate your students into smaller groups for the Guided Tour. We will tell you the exact number of students, chaperones, and how many tour guides are available. Your flexibility and assistance with this process are greatly appreciated.

After the tour, please keep students in chaperone-led groups for exploring the Central Garden. We will be allowing students to re-enter the galleries with their chaperone but please avoid interrupting tours in progress or rooms that may be crowded.

Chaperone FAQs

Q: What responsibilities do chaperones have?
All chaperones are responsible for monitoring student behavior and making sure the group stays together, even if students are high-school aged. During a Guided Tour, each chaperone must stay with the tour and be fully engaged for the duration.

Q: Is there a maximum number for chaperones?
Yes. A maximum of two chaperones per 10 students may join each guided group. Additional chaperones may tour the galleries on their own and rejoin the group after the tour has ended.

Q: Do I really need chaperones for my high school students? They are practically adults.
Yes. All K - 12 groups must be accompanied by a non-student adult aged 18 or older for safety and security purposes. If students are found wandering the site without adequate chaperones, they will be required to rejoin their chaperone or leave the galleries

Q: How long will my entire visit last?
For planning purposes, estimate that your entire visit will last approximately two to three hours. However, your group may stay at the Getty in small groups with chaperones if your schedule permits. We will be allowing students to re-enter the galleries with their chaperones and/or teachers but please avoid interrupting tours in progress or rooms that may be crowded.

Step 3: Confirm Transportation
Parking is FREE for K - 12 groups who have made reservations for a Guided Tour.

If chaperones want to arrive separately 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. If you need to make changes to an existing reservation, please call (310) 440-7322 and speak with a school group associate.

The Getty offers bus funding for eligible Title I schools or organizations which meet eligibility guidelines. This funding 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 visit, the online request system will provide further instructions and information. Bus funding is only available for visits between Sep 7, 2022 - May 31, 2023 due to our fiscal year processing.

It is the field trip organizer's responsibility to schedule transportation. If you are approved for bus funding, you will receive instructions about how to schedule your bus prior to your visit. See bus-funding guidelines for more information, or call (310) 440-7322 to speak with a school group associate.

Your Guided Visit
Our Guided Tour lesson is ideal for first-time or repeat art museum visitors. Our guides are trained to facilitate engaging explorations of artworks using student-centered learning strategies. Summer lessons are 45 minutes long with three to four stops in different galleries. The Arts Access tours are one-hour long, with 20 minute stops in three galleries throughout the museum. Students practice looking closely at one or more works of art in each gallery, learning to actively construct understanding using their own observations.

This lesson addresses Common Core Standards and supports the Visual Arts Content Standards in the area of perception and aesthetic valuing for grades K–12.

Guided Tour FAQs

Q: How long is the guided portion of the visit?
Summer tours are 45 minutes long with three to four stops in the different galleries. Guided tours for the Arts Access Program are one hour: three 20-minute stops, each in a different gallery. Please arrive on time. Arriving late will cause your tour to be shortened.

Q: Can my students have a tour of a particular exhibit or display?
Unfortunately, we cannot conduct Guided Tours of specific exhibitions, but you may explore any exhibition before or after your scheduled tour.

Q: What if I want to guide my students through the galleries myself?
Students, accompanied by chaperones, are encouraged to explore the galleries on their own after their guided tour. This is an ideal time for customized lessons assigned by the teacher, or for teacher-led exploration. We offer several activities covering many topics that can be used during the self-exploration portion of your visit: Self-Exploration Visit Activities

Q: Will clipboards and pencils be available for my visit?
Yes, materials are available for distribution. Please request them ahead of time in your reservation notes.

Before Your Visit
Introduce your students to the museum:

• Explore works of art in the collection
• Explore current exhibitions
• Pre-visit activities for all ages
• Video about visiting the Getty Center (10:39 min)

After Your Visit
When you return to your classroom, use our post-visit activities to encourage students to reflect upon their experiences at the Getty Center.

Lunch Times and Box Lunches
All groups will eat lunch in the Garden Terrace Café; near the museum galleries.

Picnic guidelines

A covered outdoor area with tables and chairs is available at the Getty Center for K - 12 groups to use at pre-scheduled times. Your lunch time is determined by your arrival time and is not changeable.

Lunch FAQS

Q: May we purchase lunches at the Getty?
Teachers can pre order box lunches for students. Please contact Bon Appétit's catering department at (310) 440-6213 or bonappetit@getty.edu for current prices and menus. Box Lunch Menu (PDF)

Q: May we change our scheduled lunch time?
Due to the high volume of groups using the lunch facilities, which is also being shared with the public, your picnic time cannot be changed.

Q: May we eat lunch inside the Getty Center Café?
At this moment, the Main Getty Center Café is dedicated for visiting public only. Summer program visits will have lunch at the Outdoor classroom; located above the Garden Terrace Café. Arts Access visits will have lunch at the Garden Terrace Café, located above the Central Garden.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: At the end of the day, teachers, chaperones, and students are responsible for clearing out leftovers in the Getty coolers before returning to the bus. Any items left behind will be disposed of at the end of the day.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to submit an application for each location if I want to come to both the Getty Center and Getty Villa?
• Do you have programs for homeschools?
• How can I determine the appropriateness of the artwork at the Getty?
• What happens if we arrive late?

Q: Do I have to submit an application for each location if I want to come to both the Getty Center and Getty Villa?
Yes, advance requests are required. Submit your request here.

Q: Do you have programs for homeschools?
Homeschool groups of 10 students or more are welcome to request a visit. Homeschool groups must follow the same procedures and guidelines as all other scheduled groups.

Q: How can I determine the appropriateness of the artwork at the Getty?
Getty displays works of art produced throughout Western art history. Many of these may depict nudity, religious scenes, and other potentially sensitive subject matter.

You may wish to notify parents in advance. If you are concerned, we recommend you review our collection on our website and welcome you to make a reservation to see our galleries before your scheduled visit. Please call (310) 440-7322 to speak with a K - 12 group associate.

Q: What happens if we arrive late?
Please arrive on time. Arriving late will result in a shortened Guided Lesson since gallery guides and lunch times are scheduled at consecutively appointed times.