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• How do I book a group visit?

  • Navigate to the appropriate page to learn about our offerings.

    • Adult Group Visits & Tours

    • College Group Visits

    • K–12 Student Group Visits

    • Early Childhood Group Visits

  • Complete the appropriate request form in advance of your anticipated visit date. Please note how far in advance you’re required to book for your specific visit option. 

  • Within five (5) business days, VMFA staff will send you a follow up email about your scheduled visit. 

  • Upon booking, you will receive a separate confirmation email that includes visit details. 

• We can’t physically come to the museum. Do you offer any online or distance learning options?

  • VMFA offers a variety of ways to explore the museum online. Search the collection, discover stories about art and artists, and explore educational resources. 

  • Through the Evans Distance Learning Program, students may visit the galleries virtually with a museum educator for a conversation centered on works of art. Free of charge and available to grades 3–12, as well as college classrooms. 

• How should I prepare ahead of time for my onsite group visit?

  • Feel free to familiarize yourself with the museum and our collection ahead of time. 

  • Explore our educational resources for families, students, and teachers. 

• Where should we park?

  • School buses, charter buses, and oversized vans may park in the designated space on the side of the VMFA Parking Deck. This designated space can accommodate six buses at a time and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Refer to our Bus Parking Map.

  • The VMFA Parking Deck is open for individual cars or passenger vans measuring under 7 feet tall and 18 feet long. The cost is $6 per vehicle; VMFA members park for free. Street parking is also available around the museum. 

• What do I need to do if I have to cancel or reschedule my visit?

  Visits may be canceled without penalty prior to payment. Once payment is made, it is not VMFA policy to provide refunds. VMFA staff will do their best to reschedule your visit, if space is available. 

• What happens if we arrive late for our guided tour?

  Please make every effort to be on time. Arriving late may result in a shortened guided tour, or possibly cancellation, depending on arrival time. If the tour needs to be canceled, the group is welcome to stay for a self-directed visit of the museum. 

• What dining options are available?

  • VMFA does not allow food to be brought into the museum. Bag lunches, box lunches, and picnics may be enjoyed outside in our Robins Sculpture Garden. 

  • We have three onsite dining experiences available to groups. Please make plans ahead of time so we can accommodate your group. 

    • Best Café is a casual café that operates on a first-come, first-served basis and does not take reservations. If you have a group larger than 20, please phone 804.340.1576 and notify us at least 24 hours in advance.

    • Amuse is the museum's fine-dining restaurant. Reservations for groups of 10 or more are required and can be made by phoning 804.340.5780 or by emailing Amuse@vmfa.museum.

    • Floris at VMFA, our tearoom, encourages reservations.   

  • You may also arrange a private luncheon, dinner, or reception through our Special Events Department. Contact specialeventsinquires@vmfa.museum for more information. 

  • Box lunches may be arranged through our Special Events Department. Contact specialeventsinquires@vmfa.museum. 

  • For Student Visits: Conference rooms are available on a limited basis and should be reserved in advance through our Special Events Department at specialeventsinquiries@vmfa.museum or 804.340.1590.

• Can we bring bag lunches and coolers into the museum?

  As noted in our Visitor Policies, VMFA does not allow food to be brought into the museum. Bag lunches, box lunches, and picnics may be enjoyed outside in our Robins Sculpture Garden.

  For Student Visits: Students may bring bag lunches and coolers into the museum to store in the student coat room, or they may be left on the bus. Lunches and coolers cannot be stored in the main coat check or any other areas of the museum.

• Is there a place to store things like backpacks, coats, and umbrellas?

  You may store your belongings at Coat Check, free of charge.

  For Student Visits: Students may store their belongings in the student coat room, located in the Art Education Center.

• Can we bring a medical bag into the galleries?

  According to our Visitor Policies, medical bags may be carried into the galleries as necessary. Kindly check in at our Security Desk for more information. 

• Do you have audio tours?

  Audio tours are available for select exhibitions and the permanent collection. Large-print transcripts of current audio tours are available at the Visitor Services Desk.  

• May we take photos during our visit?

  Yes! However, please review our Visitor Policies for details regarding photography.  

• Is sketching permitted in the galleries?

  Yes! However, please review our Visitor Policies for details. 

• May I touch the art? What about outdoors in the Sculpture Garden?

  Please do not touch or lean on works of art, display cases, and pedestals in the galleries. In the Sculpture Garden, do not touch, sit on, or lean on the sculptures or their pedestals. Also in the Sculpture Garden, visitors are not permitted to stand, sit, or reach into any water features. Refer to our Visitor Policies. 

• Who are the staff dressed in navy blue shirts posted throughout the museum?

  These are our Museum Associates. They are here to welcome and assist you and your group and to answer your questions. In addition, Museum Associates help protect the art. Because they travel from gallery to gallery, you might see the same Museum Associates in various locations. They watch over the art, making sure visitors don't get too close or bring prohibited items into the galleries. 

• What accessibility resources does the museum offer?

  Explore the museum’s accessibility resources before your visit. If you need more information, please contact Visitor Services at 804.340.1405 or info@vmfa.museum. 

• Do you offer tours for the blind or partially sighted?

  VMFA is currently unable to offer Touch Tours. In lieu of this offering, VMFA provides Verbal Description Audio Guides. These guides offer an in-depth description of select objects in the permanent collection. 

• Are sign language interpreters available?

  Sign Language Interpreters can be provided with four (4) weeks’ notice for guided group tours. To book your guided tour and interpreter, please contact Tour Services at 804.340.1419 or tourservices@vmfa.museum at least four (4) weeks in advance of your visit. 

• Do you have wheelchairs or strollers available?

  Yes. If you are in need of a wheelchair or stroller, we have them available at Coat Check, free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. 

• For Student Visits: School is closed due to inclement weather. Do we need to cancel our visit?

  • Yes. When the decision has been made for your school to close, please  phone 804.340.1419 or email tourservices@vmfa.museum as soon as possible to let us know that you need to cancel your visit.  

  • If you would like to reschedule, we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please note, guided tours are booked based on availability of Tour Guides. If we are unable to reschedule your group for a guided tour, we would then suggest booking a self-directed visit. 

• For Student Visits: Is there artwork that may be inappropriate for my students?

  As a fine arts museum with an encyclopedic collection of objects that spans more than 5,000 years of world history, VMFA has content that some teachers or parents may think is inappropriate for young visitors. If you have concerns, we suggest previewing the art before visiting the museum with your students. 

• For Student Visits: Can we do an art activity during our visit?

  • Only Pre-K Group Visits include an art-making component.

  • Unfortunately, we do not have dedicated studio or classroom space available for K-12 student groups at this time.

  • You can also visit our Interactive Family Lounge in the Memorial Foundation for Children Interactive Gallery. 

• For Student Visits: Do you have writing supplies like clipboards and paper available?

  We have clipboards and paper available for student groups. Please contact us at least one week in advance of your visit to reserve those supplies.  

• For Student Visits: I have a writing assignment for my students to do while at the museum. Is this permitted?

  Yes! We would suggest bringing clipboards and pencils for your students. Visitors are not permitted to lean on object cases or the walls, so clipboards are a great way for students to work on their assignments. In addition, students should avoid sitting on the floor if at all possible. If sitting on the floor, students should be mindful of visitor traffic. 

• For Student Visits: What is the VMFA Shop policy for student groups?

  Student groups must always be accompanied by chaperones when visiting the VMFA Shop. The ratio is one adult chaperone to 10 students. We would ask that no more than 10 students enter the gift shop at one time. 

• Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

  • Adult Group Visits: groupsales@vmfa.museum

  • College Group Visits: groupsales@vmfa.museum

  • K–12 Student Group Visits: tourservices@vmfa.museum

  • Early Childhood Group Visits: earlychildhood@vmfa.museum