The University of Kansas
Spencer Museum of Art
Donate to the Spencer

Tour Information

Supported in part by the
generosity of the Ethel &
Raymond F. Rice Foundation
& the Hallmark Corporate
Foundation.
Hallmark Corporate Foundation

The Spencer Museum of Art invites everyone, individually or in groups, to partake in the enriching experience our diverse collection of art has to offer. We ask that groups make reservations at least two weeks in advance for a guided tour. Self-guided groups of 10 people or more should also make an appointment for their visit to ensure that there is adequate space in the galleries.

Jacob Lawrence Tour

The museum’s trained volunteer docents conduct guided tours which last approximately one hour and are free of charge, though donations are accepted. Larger groups are divided into groups of no more than 15 per docent. We encourage discussion between the docent and museum visitors. After scheduling, please contact us immediately if you will not be able to keep your appointment or if the size of your group changes considerably.

Guided tours cover portions of the Spencer’s permanent collection as well as special exhibitions. The Spencer offers tours pertaining to multiple disciplines, including foreign-language groups, religious groups, and various other areas within the liberal arts.

You may also request a specialty tour tailored by our staff to address a specific theme of interest to your group. To allow time for preparation, we require at least three weeks advance notice when scheduling a specialty tour.

Parking for your museum visit
Buses may unload in front of the Spencer on Mississippi Street. Due to expansions of athletics facilities at Memorial Stadium, parking for buses is limited. After unloading, buses should proceed across campus to the Lied Center parking lot. Periodically, other options closer to the museum may be available; please ask about bus parking when you book your tour.

Parking for cars is available across the street in the Kansas Union Parking Garage at an hourly rate; weekends in the Parking Garage are free with the exception of special events—please look for reserved signage at driving entrances. The parking lot and the spaces along Mississippi Street are available without charge or a permit after 5 PM on weekdays and at all times on weekends. Please note that there is a severe shortage of nearby parking during KU football home games.

Tour Guidelines
Please remind your group that no one may touch the works of art or lean against the walls, cases, and pedestals in the galleries. Pencils are the only writing implements allowed in the galleries.
Tour Descriptions
Museum Highlights Tour
This tour introduces visitors to a general history of the Spencer Museum of Art and to highlights of our collection. Spanning a wide range of artistic movements, the Museum Highlights Tour presents information about works by well-known artists. It offers an understanding of how to look at works of art, with special attention to the expressive qualities of each work and a brief cultural and historical summary.

Special Exhibition Tour
This tour offers visitors the opportunity to learn in depth about a temporary exhibition on view at the museum during the time of the tour.

Detective’s Eye Tour: Art Conservation and Expert Sleuthing
This tour introduces visitors to art conservation by looking carefully at artworks in order to discover their hidden secrets and interesting histories.

Introduction to the Art Museum Tour
This tour provides an introduction to the world of an art museum and is geared toward children. It addresses basic art vocabulary, such as color, pattern, technique, and medium.

Art of Kansas and the Region Tour
This tour focuses on Kansas and regional artists with emphasis on their academic and artistic backgrounds.