Schools
Welcome to the York Art Gallery's schools pages.
Click here to download our 2008/9 programme for primary schools (1.2MB) or here for our 2008/9 art programme for secondary schools (326KN).
Our gallery is home to an outstanding collection of British and European art displayed in themed galleries under the headings of People, Places and Stories, chosen to reflect areas of study in the National Curriculum, as well as Sacrifice, late medieval Christian art, and Courage, Dutch 17th century paintings.
We also have a programme of special exhibitions which change over the course of the year. Highlights for 2008/9 include A Thousand Words, curated by novelist Tracy Chevalier, and Stanley Spencer, an exhibition organised by Tate Liverpool. Click here for more information.
Our learning room, The Studio, is well-equipped to support school workshops.
Badge of Quality
Our dedicated team of educationalists were among the first in the country to be awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.
The Quality Badge is a new scheme designed to combine both recognition of learning and safety issues.
The scheme is part of the Government's £4.5m Out and About package which encourages teachers to take their classes out of the classroom.
Making a Visit
Admission is free to the gallery, but we request that all groups pre-book - for more information on booking, click here.
Workshop Programme
A range of bookable education workshops support Early Years, Key Stage 1 & 2 and Key Stage 3 & 4 pupils. Click here for more information.
Self-led visits and Downloadable Resources
Alternatively, groups are welcome to explore the galleries at their leisure, making use of our interactives. Discover more about narrative paintings in our Stories section or investigate and handle a selection of ceramics. Sketchbooks and dry art materials can be used on the galleries and some seating is avilable.
We also offer downloadable resources to use during your self-guided visit. Click here for more.
York St Mary's
Our contemporary art venue, York St Mary's, is home to a specially-commissioned art installation each summer and school bookings are welcome. Click here to visit the York St Mary's website.
Opportunities for Teachers
Why not use our museum as a venue for your staff development days? This is an ideal way to combine an away day from school with practical and interactive sessions to explore learning in museums, or to brush up on your own knowledge and skills. Our Assistant Curators of Learning are happy to assist with planning your day.
In addition we can offer practical activities in our learning rooms, tours and talks by staff, behind-the-scenes access, cross-curricula approaches to learning outside the classroom, including culture, history, science, art, archaeology and citizenship, tea and coffee on arrival and assistance with lunch arrangements.
'This inspiring new education service shows maturity beyond its years. The high quality workshops are complemented by a dynamic, knowledgeable, high skilled and enthusiastic education team. I have no doubt that this service will go from strength to strength' Sandford Award judge.
York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum and the Yorkshire Museum & Gardens have all been awarded the Sandford Award for Heritage Education.
More learning resources and information from museums across the Yorkshire region are available at the My Learning website 
.
