Photo by Joseph Hu.
Photo by Joseph Hu.
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21
November
2024
|
10:00 AM
America/New_York

The Philadelphia Museum of Art to Offer Free Busing and Guided Tours to Philly Schools

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) is happy to announce a new initiative to provide free guided tours and bus funding for local schools to visit the museum’s fall exhibition, The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure.

Starting now and continuing for the duration of the exhibition (February 9, 2025), this new initiative is available for students in the School District of Philadelphia and Tri-State area Title I schools who would like to visit the special exhibition. This invitation is open to grades K-12. Educators can reserve online here; email schoolprograms@philamuseum.org or contact the PMA’s Schools team by phone at 215-684-7608.

Featuring the work of 28 Black and African contemporary artists, The Time is Always Now includes painting, drawing, and sculpture to celebrate the complexity, nuance, and richness of Black life. Students touring the exhibition will explore the show’s three main themes –Double Consciousness, Past and Presence, and Our Aliveness – while also engaging in discussion-based activities.

“Since joining the PMA just over two years ago, it’s been my goal to reflect the communities we’re here to serve and welcome back more school groups,” said Sasha Suda, the George D. Widener Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “We’ve been blown away by the positive reaction to this exhibition. Through this initiative, we’ll welcome even more students into the museum to experience it.”

“Before the exhibition’s official opened on Saturday, Nov 8, the museum had 44 school groups booked from K to 12”, said Audrey Hudson, the new Kathleen C. Sherrerd Deputy Director for Learning and Engagement. “This really shows the way in which our local communities are embracing this exhibition—but I knew we could do more to broaden our welcome to schools. The bus funding helps open access, and I truly hope to see loads and loads of school buses filled with students coming to see this exemplary exhibition. This access point is integral to the work we do, and I am overjoyed.”

Tours are available on the following Tuesdays and Wednesdays:

  • November 12, 13, 19, 20
  • December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18
  • January 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
  • February 4, 5 

 Tour Times:

  • 9-10:30am, 10:30-12:00pm, 12:00-1:30pm
  • Each 90-minute timeslot includes an hour tour with a museum educator and 30 minutes for your group to explore the exhibition on your own.

The Time is Always Now is also supported by a full calendar of events, including:

Sunday, December 1, 2024, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Pay What You Wish Sunday Family Festival inspired by works in the exhibition. 

Throughout December 2024
Drop in Art Kids tours and studio activities inspired by the exhibition.

Select days between Christmas and New Years
Winter Break Pop-Up Studio: Local artists demonstrate their making techniques inspired by the exhibition.

Sunday, February 2, 2025
Pay What You Wish Sunday Family Festival inspired by the exhibition and Black History Month.

Media Contact:
 E: pressoffice@philamuseu.org
 T: 215-684-7862

About the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a national and international destination for art, but first we are Philadelphia’s Museum of Art – for all the many diverse communities of the city. Through our collections, exhibitions, events, educational activities, celebrations and more, the PMA is a storyteller, and we welcome everyone to be part of the story -- our doors are wide open. To learn more, visit www.philamuseum.org

For additional information, contact the Communications Department of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: pressroom@philamuseum.org.
 
Social Media
Instagram/Facebook/X/Threads/YouTube: @philamuseum
TikTok: @philaartmuseum

This exhibition is organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  

Support 

National Sponsor: 

Bank of America

 

 

The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure is made possible by the Daniel W. Dietrich II Fund for Excellence in Contemporary Art, Robert Montgomery Scott Endowment for Exhibitions, Kathleen C. and John J. F. Sherrerd Fund for Exhibitions, Lois G. and Julian A. Brodsky Installation and Exhibition Fund, Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Fund for Exhibitions, Amachie K. Ackah and Carra Cote-Ackah, John Alchin and Hal Marryatt, Ms. Hope R. D'Oyley-Gay, Jaimie and David Field, Arthur M. Kaplan and R. Duane Perry, Barbara A. Podell and Mark G. Singer, Ms. Jennifer Rice and Mr. Michael Forman, Katherine Sachs, Vesna Todorović Sacks and Howard J. Sacks, Karen Goodman Tarte, Robbi and Bruce Toll, and the African American Collections Committee. 

All exhibitions at the PMA are underwritten by the Annual Exhibition Fund. Generous support is provided by Andrea Baldeck, M.D.; Julia and David Fleischner; Amy A. Fox and Daniel H. Wheeler; Robert Hayes; Mark W. Strong and Dana Strong.