Tours & Workshops at the Gallery
Welcome your students to the world of contemporary art by taking them for a tour and/or workshop at the Gallery. All tours and workshops require advanced booking.
Gallery Tours
October 11, 2022–June 2, 2023
Exhibition tours are designed to inspire students’ creative, critical, and reflective thinking at an appropriate level guided by skilled docents—volunteers who train extensively for each exhibition.
Artventure: Guided Gallery Tour (Preschool–Grade 3)
Tuesday–Friday 10:45−11:45am
Learn about the Gallery! Docents lead a playful introduction to the Surrey Art Gallery engaging young students in looking games, discussion, and activities that connect directly to the current exhibitions. This program is paired with a workshop.
Art in Focus: Guided Gallery Tour (Grades 4–12)
Tuesday–Friday 10:45−11:45am
Engaging docents encourage students to look, listen, and thoughtfully consider the artworks and concepts in the exhibitions. Students collaborate through inquiry-based discussion and activities to examine the diverse ideas, materials, images, and sounds of contemporary art. This program is paired with a workshop.
Art Exploration: Self-Guided Gallery Tour (Grades K–12)
Wednesday–Friday 11:45am−12:45pm or 1−2pm
Use the Gallery as your classroom! Enhance your curriculum studies with topics and techniques addressed in the exhibits. Try out our Art Explorer, ArtThinker, and ArtMaker stations, self-guided resources, and Teachers’ Guides with ideas to inspire your visit.
Teachers are encouraged to preview exhibits. Advance booking is required to ensure space for your group.
Secondary School Bus Tours
SD36 visual art teachers, bring your high school students to the Gallery for an interactive tour of the current exhibitions with artmaking in the Gallery.
To register, and for free transportation (seating limited), contact the Arts Education Helping Teacher at liversidge_t@surreyschools.ca at least four weeks in advance of the following scheduled tour dates:
- November 16 & 17, 2022
- May 16 & 17, 2023
Workshops
October 11, 2022–June 2, 2022
Our artmaking workshops are led by knowledgeable, practicing artists with extensive experience as art educators. They encourage experimentation with art media while engaging relevant themes and issues. Programs are tailored to grade level and integrate BC cross-curricular Big Ideas and Learning Standards.
- All morning programs include a tour (9:15−10:15am) and a workshop (10:15−11:45am)
Art Encounter (Grades K–12)
Wednesday 9:15−11:45am & 12:45–2:15pm
After an interactive tour of the current exhibits, students create art that explores ideas, subjects, and techniques they discovered during their tour. A new art activity is designed in relation to each exhibit. See Gallery Exhibitions for information on the 2022 exhibitions.
Printmaking: Expressions of Place (Grades K–12)
Tuesday 9:15−11:45am & 12:45–2:15pm
Foster connection to place and examine your environment and community through an illustrated discussion featuring works from the Gallery’s permanent collection. Students create their own print in response to places that have personal, cultural, or social significance for them.
The World of Clay (Grades K–7)
Thursday 9:15−11:45am & 12:45–2:15pm
After an interactive tour of the current exhibits, students learn about ceramic practices from around the world as the art educator demonstrates coiling, pinching, incising and sculpting. Students will create and embellish a clay vessel using these techniques.
Sculpting in Clay (Grades 3–12)
Friday 9:15–11:45am & 12:45–2:15pm
Find inspiration in permanent collection artworks by Sally Michener and Davide Pan and in masks from across the globe. Students will learn ceramic techniques such as slab construction, slip and score, and surface treatment through creating their own clay mask.
Sharing Perspectives: Indigenous Contemporary Art Workshop
Now offered onsite at the Gallery! Deepen learning about indigenous cultures and contemporary artmaking practices through an inquiry into artworks by Indigenous artists. From cedar bark weavings, vinyl murals, and seal skin drums to paintings, prints, performance, and multimedia installations, students will discuss artworks from the gallery’s permanent collection as well as public art’s permanent collection.
Led by an Indigenous artist-educator, the program includes sharing of images, touchables, and a hands-on art activity growing out of the instructor’s own art practice. Access online resources for pre-workshop preparation information.
- Workshop runs from October 11 to November 29, 2022
- Tue 9:30–11:30am & 12:15pm
- Download the Teachers' Guides for this workshop
Recycled Materials Sculptures (Grades 4–7)
Tuesday 9:30–11:30am & 12:15–2:15pm
October 11, November 8
Using recycled, natural, and gathered materials, students will create experimental sculptures and deepen understanding of their connection to and impact on the environment.
Beaded Belongings (Grades 4–7)
Tuesday 9:30–11:30am & 12:15–2:15pm
October 18, November 15
Building on the relationships we have with one another and the importance of community, students will create pony bead belongings with the opportunity to gift their creations to someone they care for.
Mixed Media Collage (Grades 8–12)
Tuesday 9:30–11:30am & 12:15–2:15pm
November 1 and 29
Through a gathering of personal mementos and photographs, students will create mixed media collages reflecting on their individual and collective histories.
Artist Trading Cards (Grades K–3)
Tuesday 9:30–11:30am & 12:15–2:15pm
October 25, November 22
Reflecting on the qualities which make them unique, students will create artist cards using a variety of materials to trade with one another.
How to Register
Programs at the Gallery run from October 11, 2022 to June 2, 2023.
Information Required to Register
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Direct contact information (phone and email) for the teacher facilitating the individual program. This is mandatory to ensure proper communication
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Grade and number of students (note: we cannot accommodate classes exceeding 30 participants)
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School name and phone number
To Register, Call
City of Surrey Call Centre
604-501-5100, press 1
Monday−Thursday: 8:30am−5:30pm
Friday: 8:30am−4:30pm
Surrey Art Gallery
604-501-5566, press 0
Tuesday–Thursday: 9am–9pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–5pm
Sunday: 12–5pm
Closed: Mondays and holidays
Payments and Cancellations
Payment – The City of Surrey will invoice your school directly in the first week of the month your program is scheduled. For inquiries regarding invoicing or payment, email prccustomerservice@surrey.ca.
Cancellations require a minimum of three weeks’ notice. After this time, the program is non-refundable. Exceptions will be made in the event of school closure.
To cancel or reschedule programs, you must contact Surrey Art Gallery at 604-501-5566.