School Visits
Turn MOCA into your classroom.
K–12 and post-secondary student groups of 10 or more are invited to engage with artwork by international artists across all contemporary art forms, debating and sharing ideas along the way.
Join us for a guided tour or self-guided visit, or participate in one of our studio activities. Please book tours a minimum of two weeks in advance. The Learning department will follow up with you to confirm your request.
Discover our Educator Resources.
Explore. Engage. Inspire.
During their visit to MOCA, your students will have an opportunity to:
- Converse, ask questions, and think critically as they interpret artworks by local and international artists across all contemporary art forms
- Consider new perspectives and issues that are relevant and urgent in today’s world
- Personally connect with the topics presented in our exhibitions
- Learn about MOCA’s adaptive reuse of a landmark heritage building and explore the culturally rich Junction Triangle neighbourhood
Guided Tour
Guided tours offer students of all ages a closer look at our exhibitions. Led by one of our trained Visitor Experience Guides, they last approximately 45 minutes and are designed to foster discussion and exchange. Maximum 30 people.
Guided Tour + Studio Activity
Studio Activities offer students of all ages a tailored, hands-on activity to deepen their understanding of the exhibitions’ themes. Led by one of our trained Visitor Experience Guides, they run for approximately 2 hours, consisting of a 30-minute tour, followed by 90 minutes of art-making. Maximum 30 people. Currently offered Wednesday mornings only.
Self-Guided Visit
Self-guided visits allow school groups to explore the Museum however they like. In addition, MOCA staff stationed throughout the Museum will be available to answer any questions they may have along the way. Maximum 60 people.
“I was really impressed by our tour guide… her complex and thoughtful understanding of the exhibitions was evident. She tied in the themes we’re exploring in the course and presented the content in a way that was engaging and responsive to the needs of the group.”
—Mary Porter, Instructor, OCAD University
School Group Pricing
In addition to admission, the following pricing applies for groups of 10 or more. For standard pricing, please refer to our visit page.
Guided Tour: Additional fee of $60 per group applies
Guided Tour + Studio Activity: Additional fee of $160 per group applies
Contact us at learning@moca.ca for more details about your next guided tour.
Admission:
Adult (18+): $12
Student with ID (18+): $5
Senior (65+): $10
Under 18: Free
Guided student tours include up to 3 free adult tickets for chaperones.
Learning Resources for Teachers
Introducing MOCA Educator Exhibition Resources! Use these guides to learn about MOCA’s exhibiting artists and their work, either in the gallery or remotely in your classroom. They include curriculum connections, guiding questions, and additional resources to help shape conversations and extend learning.
FAQs
If travelling by bus
Buses can pull up in front of the Museum on Sterling Road for drop off and pick up only.
Note: Despite ongoing construction on Sterling Road, the Museum remains open for buses to drop off and pick up students. For more information on current construction, check our visit page or reach out to learning@moca.ca.
If travelling by public transit
MOCA is a 10- to 15-minute walk from both Lansdowne and Dundas West stations on the TTC’s Bloor subway line as well as the UP Express-Bloor station. Please note: Dundas West is an accessible station, while Lansdowne is not.
The closest streetcar stop is at the corner of Dundas St. West and Sterling Road, which can be reached by both the 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton streetcars. We are a 5-minute walk north on Sterling Road from the streetcar stop.
When you arrive
Upon arrival, enter the Museum through the main front doors on Sterling Road. Teachers and/or chaperones may proceed to the Welcome Desk to check in and purchase or print their group tickets. The Learning Coordinator will greet you, provide your group with an introduction to MOCA ,and walk you through some housekeeping notes (lockers, coat rack, nearest bathrooms, gallery guidelines, etc.). If you have booked a guided visit, the Learning Coordinator or an Art Educator will ask your group to gather on the Ground Floor to begin the visit.
Teachers and/or chaperones are responsible for their students during the entire visit. We recommend a supervisor-to-student ratio of 1:10. Supervisors are asked to ensure that their students are mindful of both artwork and fellow visitors, keeping noise levels low wherever possible.
MOCA does not currently have a dedicated lunch space for school groups and does not have water fountains available, so please make sure to plan accordingly. In general food and drink are not permitted in the Museum, however, a sealed water bottle may be used on the Ground Floor. If you are planning a day-long trip or you are booking a Studio Activity with us and your group would like to bring food onsite please contact the Learning Coordinator at learning@moca.ca.
If you would like to purchase food during or following your visit, MOCA’s cafe partner Forno Cultura is located on the Ground Floor and offers light fare such as sandwiches, sweets, coffee, and a range of beverages. For more information visit their website here.
The listed costs for tours and entrance to the Museum aim to provide affordable options for visiting schools. However, if your school faces challenges regarding these fees, or accessing arts curriculum in general, please contact learning@moca.ca.
Please contact us about making a booking at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to your anticipated visit date to ensure that we have the appropriate staffing onsite. If you need to make a last-minute booking please contact the Learning Coordinator at learning@moca.ca directly to check for feasibility.
Guided Visits run approximately 45 minutes and Guided Visits with a Studio Activity run approximately 2 hours. The exhibitions at MOCA are site-specific and respond to the unique context of the Museum. As such, the studio activities on offer for school visits also change to reflect and respond to the current exhibitions.
To find out what activities are on offer for a given exhibition or for general requests in relation to school visits contact the Learning Coordinator at learning@moca.ca.
Questions?
Please contact us at learning@moca.ca
Banner photo by Gabriel Li.