Many people remember being guided through a museum's galleries by a docent during an elementary or middle school class field trip. But when was the last time you participated in a group tour? Did you know that you can discover (or rediscover) the Museum's masterpieces during a guided, docent-led experience?

The Birmingham Museum of Art engages approximately 17,000 visitors a year through docent-led tours. That number includes children, teenagers, and adults of all ages. Tours for adults emphasize close looking, idea sharing, and conversation geared to adult visitors.

To all adults who seek an enjoyable, mind-expanding outing for clubs, business groups or other organizations, look no further. Create new memories at the Museum. With the click of your mouse or a phone call, schedule your docent-led tour of the Birmingham Museum of Art today!

TEACHERS: For information on tours for students, please visit our Teachers section.

Here are the tours we offer for adults:

DISCOVER THE BMA
Highlights of the Museum’s outstanding collections.

AMERICA THEN AND NOW
From landscapes to portraits to punch bowls, art that speaks of the history, settlement, and spirit of our nation.

BLACK HISTORY 365
The work of black artists is on view year round—especially in our African and African-American and Contemporary galleries.

HANDS ACROSS ART
In this program for adults with visual impairments, specially trained docents present the permanent collection by means of verbal descriptions, three-dimensional tactile models based on original works of art, and sculpture. The experience may be enhanced by related music and/or art-making to provide multi-sensory access to the visual arts. Click here for more information.

EUROPEAN MASTERPIECES: THE GRAND TOUR
What rich young travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries saw and collected on their Grand Tour of continental Europe.

THE ARTS OF ASIA
Explore 3000 years of Asian art and culture through ceramics, sculpture, painting and other artworks from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

THE NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
The art of Native American cultures of the Eastern Woodlands, Plains, Northwest Coast, and Southwest, and what it says about their customs, values, and beliefs.

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Click to see which special exhibitions we have on view now, and which special exhibitions are upcoming!

To schedule a tour, please click here to book online, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 205.254.2964. All docent-led tours must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance.