Group Tours

MoAD provides discussion-based, interactive tours for over 5,000 visitors per year. Tours led by experienced guides, help visitors develop critical thinking skills through active conversations and activities centered on observation and analysis of the Permanent and Special Exhbitions. Each tour is tailored to the needs and interests of the group.

Tours are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. We need 21 days advance notice to process a tour request. Groups must consist of a minimum of 10 people per group and a maximum of 40. For school groups, a minimum of 1 chaperone per 10 students is required.

Tours are approximately 40 minutes in length and include an overview of the Permanent Exhibitions and Special Exhibition, when on view.  Please refer to our website for information concerning our current exhibition.

Group Tour Rates

Groups of 10 or more persons are eligible for a discounted admission. Group rates are per person and as follows:

How To Schedule A Tour

Please use the online .  If you need assistance please send e-mail  to education@moadsf.org or call 415-318-7151.

We have a 48 hour cancellation policy.  If cancellation occurs less than 48 hours you may not be able to reschedule for a period of three months.

How To Prepare For Your Visit (For Educators)

The easiest way to incorporate a visit to the Museum into your classroom curriculum is to first visit the Museum yourself. This way you will be able to easily make connections to subjects covered within the exhibitions. If visiting the Museum is not possible, our website contains resources related to all of our exhibitions. Additionally, many of our Special Exhibitions have related MoAD curriculum guides which are in alignment with the State of California Content Standards. Please see the current exhibition page for more information.

The Day of Your Visit

It would be helpful to provide a cell phone number for the day of the tour should it be necessary to make contact regarding last minute updates and or special needs.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour. Guide your group directly across the street from the Museum where they can view the “Face of MoAD”— a two-story tall photograph of a young girl in Ghana, taken by the acclaimed portrait photographer Chester Higgins Jr.  More information about the Face of MoAD can be found on our website.

When your group arrives, students will need to remain outside lined up alongside the front of the museum until a Docent comes to greet you. The group leader needs to check in with the Visitor’s Services at the front desk. Do your best to arrive on time. If you are running late, call Visitor Services at 415.358.7211. In the case of inclement weather your group will be allowed to wait inside the Museum lobby. Please remind your group that food and drinks are not allowed in the Museum.

Preparing Chaperones For Tours

When visiting the museum it is important the chaperones are prepared to be responsible for the behavior and safety of the students. Please remind chaperones to stay with their assigned group for the duration of the visit. It is their responsibility to help students respect the following rules:

1. Food and drink are not allowed in the Museum.
2. Only pencils may be used in the galleries.
3. With the exception of exhibition components which the Guide or Docent invites students to touch, no artwork or exhibition objects can be touched.
4. Remain behind black floor markers where visible, or 18 inches away from exhibition pieces when floor markers are not present.
5. Speak quietly. Voices should not be audible beyond 3 feet away.
6. Walk, do not run in the galleries and on the stairs.