School Group Tours
Book your visit today.
The Burchfield Penney hosts hundreds of educators and their students yearly, including preschool field trips, college-level workshops, and everything else. When you book a tour, your visit will be customized to your needs and areas of study. The museum also offers numerous special programs for school groups and others.
School Group Tours (K-12) are free through December 2025, thanks to the generous support of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Educators also have the option to inquire about adding a hands-on art-making activity. Please request your tour by filling out the form below. For more information, email bpactours@buffalostate.edu.
Book your tour
Please book your visit at least two weeks in advance by submitting the form below, by calling 716-878-3156, or emailing the Burchfield Penney at bpactours@buffalostate.edu
One chaperone is needed for every ten students. A coat room, lockers and wheelchairs are available. Please review the museum guidelines and accessibility (below) in advance of your visit. You may also inquire about adding a hands-on art activity with your tour.
Accessibility + Visitor Guidelines
A treasured experience for all. A visit to the Burchfield Penney is filled with countless opportunities to observe, imagine, and explore.
Accessibility
The Burchfield Penney Art Center is committed to making its exhibitions and events open to all, and is committed to the letter and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Visitors needing to request accommodation under ADA should call 716-878-6011, or email burchfld@buffalostate.edu...
We also offer special programs for visitors and caregivers of those with memory loss, and Parkinson’s Disease.
The Burchfield’s Auditorium has a loop system (T-coil) for loop-enabled hearing aids. Please let a staff member know if you would like to use the system.
We welcome your suggestions and feedback on ways we can improve our exhibits and programs to ensure they are accessible to all. Email us at burchfld@buffalostate.edu.
Wheelchairs are available and can be reserved in advance by calling (716) 878-6011 during gallery hours.
In addition, the museum's education department designs programs for children and adults with special needs. For more information, call Mary Kozub at (716) 878-3156 or email kozubmm@buffalostate.edu.
Visitor Guidelines
We ask that all guests follow these simple guidelines in order to protect the artwork and respect other visitors:
- Strollers are welcome in our galleries.
- Food, drink, and chewing gum are not permitted in the galleries.
- Photography is permitted, without a flash or tripod. Photography is exhibition-specific, and permission may change without notice.
- Drawing and writing, with pencil only, are permitted in the galleries. Pencils are available at Visitor Services.
- Even the slightest touch can damage artwork. Please view works from a safe distance and help your children understand they should look with their eyes, but not touch.
- For the convenience of our guests, there are lockers available at the museum entrance. The lockers require a refundable quarter and are available during hours of operation. All large bags (over 13" x 17"), backpacks, tripods and umbrellas should be placed in a locker prior to entering the galleries.
Tour Types
Below are samples of tours that we offer for school groups:
Charles E. Burchfield
The Burchfield Penney Art Center has three galleries permanently dedicated to Charles E. Burchfield's art, as well as a reproduction of his studio. This is an in-depth tour for your students to study our namesake.
Architectural and Green Building Tour
The Burchfield Penney Art Center was the first "green" museum in New York State and the last building designed by noted architect Charles Gwathmey. This tour will focus on the architectural and environmental features of our LEED Silver building.
Inclusive Tours
The museum—which is fully accessible— offers tours and hands-on art activities for students with special needs and disabilities and offers a supportive and engaging experience. This program provides a 30-minute guided tour tailored to the group's needs, focusing on highlights of the exhibitions to ensure an enjoyable and inclusive experience. Following the tour, students will participate in a 30-minute art activity, allowing them to explore their creativity in a relaxing environment. This option can be added to a larger group tour with your school, ensuring that all students can enjoy and benefit from the visit.
Higher Education
College classes of every discipline are welcome to tour the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Tours can be used as inspiration for creative writing, the building of observational skills, developing and defending a point-of-view, and creating a practice of connecting to prior knowledge, inference, and reflection to what is seen.