Preparing for a Tour  

Constructing the Tour  

The 5 C's 
of Giving a Tour  

Interview with 
Youth Insights Staff  

Documenting 
the Web  

Constructing The Tour

There are several things we do to construct a tour, especially when a group of three to four guides work together.

In Youth Insights, we often do what is called "tag -team teaching." This is when two team members work together and help each other to give a tour. That way, no team member is left hanging with nothing to say.

This team also puts the tour together using the following steps. Constructing a tour is complicated, challenging, but a fun experience!

Explore the Galleries and Exhibitions
As a group, we first explore the galleries. There, we get a feel for the exhibition and carefully select works we appreciate most, or that we feel are appropriate for the group we will be leading. We consider many factors when selecting work. A piece dealing with sexuality or violence may not be appropriate for young children, but may be an excellent choice for teens and seniors.

Do Research
After selecting the pieces we want to discuss, we research the works and the artists who created them. While we research, we note key information and discover its relationship to the specific piece. The Education Department has a huge selection of art books and articles in their artist files. Once our research is completed and individual tour outlines are established, the real fun begins.

Organize
The group must organize their tour. Naturally, the tour needs to be ordered according to the way the art is placed in the gallery. The tour should also be spread out, not crowded in one room. The team must decide who will introduce Youth Insights, the current exhibition at the Whitney Museum, the theme of the tour, rules people must follow in the galleries, and who will conclude the tour. Creating a transition between each piece of art is usually the most difficult thing to perfect.

Practice
After the tour is organized, we have to practice. We always practice with the rest of the Youth Insights team and use their feedback to improve our tours.

To find out more about doing a tour, check out The 5 "Cs" of Giving A Tour.

© 2000 Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York