Bard Graduate Center is committed to forming the next generation of museum educators, curators, and historians, who see deeply, think critically, and build freely.

See Deeply— We believe in the power of careful observation, deduction, and research. We also acknowledge that audiences bring a wealth of personal knowledge, history, and insight to their relationship with objects.

Think Critically— We value serious, disciplined thinking that is clear, open-minded, and informed by evidence. We want audiences to feel confident about drawing meaning from objects, familiar and unfamiliar. We believe in open dialogue and big questions.

Build Freely— We provide opportunities for people to build relationships and share insights. We hope to build an intergenerational movement of curators, scholars, historians, and visitors in order to create democratic museums. We believe that by reimagining the past we can build an equitable future.

The Lab for Teen Thinkers

The Lab for Teen Thinkers is two-year public humanities program that prepares 12 rising juniors and seniors for future academic and professional success through civic development, mentoring, and internship opportunities. Participants have access to Bard Graduate Center’s research institute, study collection, and library with over 55,000 volumes. The program offers a behind-the-scenes look at how New York City museums function and gives teens the unique opportunity to study objects and artifacts with a variety of scholars, curators, and graduate students working in the fields of material culture, decorative arts, and design history. Participants conduct independent research and create dynamic digital projects with the support of our Digital Media Lab. Teen Thinkers contribute their research and scholarship with the larger academic community at Bard Graduate Center, influencing how others might learn and think about material culture.

Read about The Lab for Teen Thinkers here.

Teen Programs

Our free programs give NYC high school students the opportunity to learn about objects and material culture with a variety of visiting artists, scholars, curators and their peers.

Upcoming Event: Teens 4 Teens Night
Making•Media•Materials: Exploring Objects as Time Capsules


Teens of NYC, you are invited to Teens 4 Teens Night at Bard Graduate Center Gallery presented by the BGC Teen Event Planning Committee. Together, through creative activities and workshops, we will delve into the worlds of the three exhibitions on view. We will explore how the present interacts with the past materially through the artifacts of an Indigenous community; a display of historical and contemporary jewelry; and a library of revolutionary typography. Joining us will be BGC artists-in-residence, Native Art Department International, engaging teens with their work. We hope you will join us!

Date: April 5, 2019
Time: 5–7 pm
Location: 18 West 86th Street
Cost: FREE
Contact: carla.repice@bgc.bard.edu

School Tours

K–12 visitors see objects up close and make meaningful connections to the world around them. Our student-centered tours are led by graduate student educators who engage young people in lively discussion and hands-on activities that promote critical thinking and visual literacy skills. Tours are adaptable to your school’s curriculum and build thoughtful object-based inquiry and powerful learning experiences.

English Language Learners

We offer customized tours for English language learners that explore exhibition objects through touch and hands-on making activities. ELL students are encouraged to draw on their personal knowledge, history, and insight during the object-based tour which builds meaningful learning experiences.

School Tour Fees
NYCDOE school groups: Free
For all other groups the 2018–19 rates are:
$85 | for group of up to 15 participants
$160 | 16–30 participants
$210 | 31–45 participants

School Tour Availability
Tuesdays through Fridays: School tours begin at 11 am
Advance reservations are required
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Haptic Learning Lab Experience: 45 minutes

School Tour Booking
212.501.3013
tours@bgc.bard.edu

Educator Guide

Click here to download a PDF of the Educator Guide for our current exhibition The Story Box: Franz Boas, George Hunt and the Making of Anthropology.

Ice Cream Social

Twice a year we host an afternoon of open house activities in the Gallery along with free Van Leeuwen ice cream on 86th Street. Join us for an afternoon of storytelling, hands-on art making, and gallery exploration for the whole family! Our next Ice Cream Social will be on June 22, 2019. Click here to register.

Public Learning Classes: Applying the same values of intimate instruction and close contemplation as our MA and PhD programs, Bard Graduate Center’s evening classes for the general public give participants unprecedented access to our world-renowned faculty and alumni. Most courses are five weeks long. For information on upcoming classes click here.

Study Days: Our Study Days provide opportunities for day-long immersive study into specific areas related to our exhibitions. Experts and scholars provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access to collections and their contexts.

We offer education and public programs that build inclusive and accessible gallery experiences for visitors.

Arts & Minds

Bard Graduate Center Gallery has partnered with Arts & Minds to bring visitors with memory disorders and their caregivers together for deep reflection with objects from our Study Collection. Through hands-on object based discussions and making activities, Arts & Minds opens a window to storytelling and well-being. To learn more about this program, please email public.programs@bgc.bard.edu

Tours for English Language Learners

We offer customized tours for English language learners that explore exhibition objects through touch and hands-on making activities. ELL students are encouraged to draw on their personal knowledge, history, and insight during the object-based tour which builds meaningful learning experiences.

For Visitors With Hearing Loss

We offer a variety of conversations, talks and exhibition symposia with assistive listening devices. Upcoming events can be found here.

Open House

Bard Graduate Center Gallery offers a number of Open House events for older adult audiences throughout the year. Visit the gallery free of charge with family, friends, and caregivers; participate in a tour of exhibition highlights led by knowledgeable graduate student gallery educators; and gather in our intimate townhouse for refreshments and meaningful conversation.

Upcoming Open House on April 15. Click here for more information.

Arts and Minds

Art has the power to build dialogue and imagine new ways of seeing. Bard Graduate Center Gallery has partnered with Arts & Minds to bring visitors with memory disorders and their caregivers together for deep reflection with objects from our Study Collection. Through hands-on object based discussions and making activities, Arts & Minds opens a window to storytelling and well-being. To learn more about this program please email, public.programs@bgc.bard.edu

Free tours for groups of 10+

Senior Group Tours can be customized to meet the specific needs of visitors, including scheduling tours when the museum is closed and accommodating chairs so visitors can relax. To schedule a tour email: tours@bgc.bard.edu

Evening for Educators

Bard Graduate Center acknowledges educators as leaders who make important contributions in the arts and humanities and in the lives of students. Our Evening for Educators reflects our commitment to provide teachers with quality interdisciplinary workshops and tours that spark deeper appreciation of the material world and its complex cultural history.

Upcoming Evening for Educations on February 14. Click here for more information.

Professional Development Workshops

We offer a range of Professional Development Workshops that empowers educators and their students to see deeply, think critically, and build freely. Teaching with Objects is an introductory workshop for educators interested in using objects in the classroom as primary sources and as starting points for discussion-based learning. Tactile Learning for English Language Learners uses games, storytelling, and creative writing to explore connections between objects and personal histories. Making and Knowing is a hands-on art making workshop that explores various materials and methods on view in the Gallery.

Educator Guides

Click here to download a PDF of the Educator Guide for our current exhibition The Story Box: Franz Boas, George Hunt and the Making of Anthropology.

We offer a range of private tours for colleges, seniors and general-interest groups that highlight objects, materials, and themes within our current exhibitions. Tours are tailored to suit each specific group and introduce visitors to object-based inquiry as a means of formulating broader questions about the material world.

Tour Fees

NYCDOE school groups: Free
For all other groups the 2018–19 rates are:
$85 | for group of up to 15 participants
$160 | 16–30 participants
$210 | 31–45 participants

Tour Availability

Tuesdays through Fridays: Tours begin at 11 am
Advance reservations are required.
Tour Length: 50 minutes

Tour Booking

212.501.3013
tours@bgc.bard.edu

VIP Tours

We offer exclusive access to our curators and exhibitions with behind the scenes VIP tours that culminate in refreshments and conversation in our intimate townhouse space. For more information please contact: tours@bgc.bard.edu or call 212.501.3013

We build sustained relationships and dialogue between artists, teens, seniors, scholars, veterans, historians, curators, and community-based organizations around the city in order to create democratic museums.

Community Partnerships

Bard High School Early College

Harlem Children’s Zone

DreamYard Project

Wendy’s Subway

Textile Arts Center

Arts & Minds