We welcome and encourage faculty and teaching fellows at Yale and other colleges and universities to incorporate sessions at the Gallery into their courses. All course visits must be registered in advance.

The museum supports teaching across a wide range of disciplines, departments, and programs at Yale and beyond. Faculty often work with Gallery curators and educators to draw out content connections, as well as to develop strategies for strengthening critical skills and thinking dispositions. Class visits build community among students and introduce them to the Gallery as a vibrant resource.

Benefits of Object-Based Teaching and Learning Methods

Engaging with art objects can stretch students to think in new and creative ways about subject matter introduced in the classroom. A well-chosen work of art can offer a common point of entry into a complex topic or can provide a concrete example with which to explore or apply abstract concepts. Gallery visits are conducive to innovative pedagogical approaches that engage students across their multiple intelligences and can train them to be analytical observers, agile thinkers, and empathetic individuals.

To learn more about teaching with the collection, email yuag.acadaff@yale.edu.

All course visits must be registered in advance. Complete the form to request a visit.

Curators and educators are available to advise faculty and teaching fellows on selecting objects and designing course visits. Gallery staff can consult on crafting assignments using the collection and can provide specialized pedagogical training.

Exhibitions and Permanent-Collection Galleries

The majority of university class visits take place in the galleries with works on view from our permanent collection and in special exhibitions. These visits can be guided by Gallery staff or self-guided by course instructors. Portable stools are available. Classes of more than 15 students must be divided into smaller groups to ensure the safety of the objects and a positive learning experience for all.

Object-Study Classrooms

University classes may view objects from storage in our object-study classrooms, which are available by reservation. Requests for objects from storage are reviewed by curators and require at least one month’s advance notice. Each classroom is equipped with a computer, wireless Internet access, a projector, and a screen.

The Gallery also has spaces dedicated to the study of works from specific collection areas at its main location in downtown New Haven and at the Collection Studies Center at Yale West Campus, in West Haven. Find more information about these spaces under Resources.