Co-Op | For-Profit | Online | Homeschool Groups
The following programs are available for Co-Op, For-Profit, Online, and Homeschool Groups.
All ArtReach and Self-Guided Groups must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.
In-Museum ArtReach Visit
Interactive Learning with BAM Educators in the Museum
Student-Centered Discussions and Activities with BAM Educators in BAM’s Exhibitions and Art-Making Projects in BAM’s Studios. Aligns with State & National Standards.
Tuesday through Friday
Pre-K – 12th Grades
90-minute programs
BAM charges an In-Museum ArtReach flat fee of $100 for Co-op, For-Profit, Online, and Homeschool groups
This fee includes:
- Admission for 15-35 Students ages 5 – 18 (15 Student Minimum, 35 Student Maximum). Students will be grouped by age for the Museum experience.
- Admission for a maximum of 6 chaperons (1 teacher and up to 5 chaperons);
- An interactive experience facilitated by BAM Educators, with;
- Studio artmaking activity;
- Teacher Preview pass to view artwork in advance of visit.
Please email education@boiseartmuseum.org for more information and to schedule.
Limited-Time Program for 8th – 12th grade students
Art + Society: Humanities, Government, and Practical Law in Art
Curricular Connections: humanities, government, sociology, psychology, debate, culinary, ceramics, painting, art as activism.
Special program for Students in 8th-12th grade
August 11, 2025 – December 19, 2025
Tuesday through Friday
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. or 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
45-minute program
Students will engage in activities and conversations while experiencing Julie Green: The Last Supper.
Julie Green: The Last Supper features nearly 1,000 hand-painted ceramic plates, illustrating the final meal requests of people on death row in the U.S. This exhibition encourages viewers to consider the U.S. prison system and the way we think about those who are within it. By linking us together through our basic need for food, artist Julie Green sparks a human connection and opens our hearts and minds to individuals in our society who are often disregarded and forgotten. The artist invites people to consider our criminal justice system and societal norms while surrounded by the large installation of hand-painted ceramic plates.
2025/2026 Experiences for Pre-K – 12th grade students
Art + Community: Idaho Artist James Castle (1899 – 1977)
Curricular Connections: Idaho history, language arts, community, storytelling, identity, recycling, close observation, book arts, drawing, sculpture
September 16, 2025 – January 16, 2026
Tuesday through Friday
9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.
Pre-K – 12th grade | 90-minute program
Students will view and discuss the ways Idaho artist James Castle communicated about place and community by creating artwork.
In the studios, students will share their ideas and life experiences by drawing with charcoal.
James Castle (1899-1977), born in Garden Valley, Idaho, is internationally celebrated for his lifelong artistic practice and contributions as a Deaf artist. His art provides a unique visual record of seven decades of life in rural Idaho during the 20th century. Inspired by what he saw during his everyday experiences, James Castle created drawings and constructions to make sense of the world around him. His artwork shows what is possible with a perspective of curiosity and a creative drive.
Art + Science in History: Four Masterworks from the National Gallery of Art
Curricular Connections: U.S. history, world history, art history, social studies, science, color theory, painting
January 20 – January 30, 2026
Tuesday through Friday
9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.
Pre-K – 12th grade | 90-minute program
Students will participate in activities and discussions related to four artworks created by famous master artists between 1841 and 1950, a time of significant scientific, cultural, and civic advancements, and world events. In the studios, students will create their own artworks based on our times, using today’s scientific and artistic knowledge.
Students will learn about visionary artists who challenged acceptable art practices and presented original ideas for their times. Thomas Eakins, Berthe Morisot, and Mark Rothko were instrumental in shifting each current art movement toward a new art movement – from Realism to Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism. They were inventors of art history.
Boise Art Museum is one of only ten American art museums to be invited to participate in the National Gallery of Art’s “Across the Nation” lending initiative. This program makes it possible for us to share with our community four significant works of art from the National Gallery’s permanent collection in Washington, D.C.
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), Young Woman with a Straw Hat, 1884
Thomas Eakins (1844-1916), Harriet Husson Carville (Mrs. James G. Carville), 1904
Mark Rothko (1903-1970), Untitled, 1948
Mark Rothko (1903-1970), Untitled, 1950
Four Masterworks from the National Gallery of Art
Art + Story: Symbols and Stories in American Art
Curricular Connections: U.S. history, language arts, storytelling, identity, symbolism, color theory, math/geometry
February 3, 2026 – May 22, 2026
Tuesday through Friday
9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.
Pre-K – 12th grade | 90-minute program
Students will experience activities and interactive discussions while being surrounded by vibrant, dynamic artworks, in the exhibition Jeffrey Gibson: They Teach Love, including beaded punching bags, quilted garment installations, elk-hide drums, geometric paintings, and large-scale photographs. In the studios, students will create their own artworks with bold colors and geometric patterns.
Internationally known artist Jeffrey Gibson is of Mississippi Choctaw and Cherokee heritage. He combines objects from Native American cultures into his powerful artworks that tell stories of hope.
All programs are accessible and inclusive. Please notify staff of any special needs or concerns when scheduling a program.
Online ArtReach Experience
Hands-On Experiences in Your Classroom
Student-Centered Discussion Questions, Teacher Script, and Art-Making Projects in Your Classroom with Free Art Supplies. Aligns with State & National Standards.
BAM charges a Online ArtReach flat fee of $50 for Co-op, For-Profit, Online, and Homeschools to cover supplies for up to 35 students, postal fees, and access to the program.
Please email education@boiseartmuseum.org for more information and to schedule.
BAM’s ArtReach program is supported in part by grants from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, the J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, the Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Self-Guided Group Visit
- Self-guided groups must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
- Admission fees apply: General Admission $9, Students $5, Children 5 and under Free, Senior (62 and over) $7, Military $7
- Payment in advance is required. After scheduling your visit, follow the link in your confirmation e-mail to pre-pay online.
- Self-guided group visits are limited to a maximum of 15 students and 2 adult chaperons per hour. (One adult chaperon per 10 students is required.)
- Scheduled between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., depending on availability.
- Self-guided groups enter through the FRONT entrance of the Museum.
- Chaperons must stay with students at all times.
- Offered year round.
Reservations are necessary, and groups must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
Schedule Early and Let Us Know if You Need to Cancel
BAM serves as many groups as possible through pre-scheduled visits. For the safety of visitors and artwork, BAM has a limited number of group visits available each day. If you must cancel, please notify us as soon as possible.
Ask Questions
If you have questions about which program works best for your group, please contact education@boiseartmuseum.org or call at 208-345-8330, ext. 118. BAM’s Education staff will work with you to find the best option for your visit.
Unscheduled Visits
To ensure high-quality experiences, unscheduled groups are not admitted to the Museum when their visit conflicts with already-scheduled groups. Please schedule your visit online at least two weeks in advance.
