K-12 Student Groups
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tour Booking Process?

  • All tours must be requested a minimum of 3-weeks in advance.
  • Tours must be requested online through the museum’s Tour Request Form.
  • Requested tours are not guaranteed until confirmed by the museum via e-mail. Please add meadowsmuseumtours@smu.edu to your contacts to help prevent the museum’s email from going into your Spam folder.

How are Logistics and Payment Handled?

  • The group leader should check in at the Box Office upon arrival. If you have requested a docent-guided tour, your docent will meet you in the lobby.
  • Payment for the group must be made in one lump sum on the day of your tour. Please pay at the Box Office with cash, credit card or check (made payable to “SMU”). No purchase orders please. We cannot accept advance payment by mail.
  • Late arrivals: Should your group be running late, please call the Box Office at 214-768-8587. Any group that arrives 20 minutes beyond their scheduled start time and without notice are not guaranteed docents.
  • We request that all K-12 student groups wear name tags to ensure a personalized experience.

What is the Cancellation Policy?

Tours must be cancelled a minimum of 3 days before your tour date. Should you need to cancel a tour a week or more away, please click the link in your confirmation email. Should you need to cancel your tour within a week of your tour date, please call the Meadows Museum Box Office at 214-768-2516.

What is the Gallery Etiquette?

To ensure the safety of our guests and the works of art, please follow the guidelines below during your visit:

  • Backpacks, large handbags, umbrellas and food/beverage/gum are not permitted in the galleries. Please leave sack lunches in your vehicles during your tour.
  • Please do not touch the art or pedestals and keep at least an arm’s length away from the objects.
  • Visitors may bring reasonably sized sketchbooks into the galleries. Writing and sketching materials may include pencil, crayon and oil pastels only. (Absolutely no charcoal or wet materials are allowed in the galleries). Do not use the walls or benches as writing or drawing support; use only hand-held boards or notebooks. Keep all materials at least three feet away from the art. Many of our artworks are extremely fragile and can be damaged by the slightest touch. Do not bring large, sharp objects into the galleries including rulers, t-squares, easels, and ink (pens).
  • Please consult museum staff or security about policies regarding photography. To help us better prepare for your visit, it is best to advise us in advance of such requests.

What About Parking & Buses?

BUSES:

  • The museum does not have regular on-site parking for unattended buses.
  • Buses drop passengers off in front of the museum on Bishop Boulevard. Please note that the University prohibits unattended parking along Bishop Boulevard without a permit. After drop-off, the bus may park at Mockingbird Station until pickup.
  • If the driver CANNOT stay with the bus during the visit, a permit is required to park unattended on Bishop Boulevard. Request a permit online using SMU’s Campus Bus Visit Request Form at least 14 days in advance to ensure availability. A permit and parking map will be emailed to you by SMU Parking and ID Card Services. Please direct questions about this process to parking@smu.edu. Subject to availability.

PASSENGER VEHICLES:

  • Free parking is available in the Meadows Museum Parking Center, located beneath the museum on the corner of Bishop Boulevard and Schlegel Street. Please enter the right-hand gate for Museum Visitor Parking. The height clearance for a vehicle is 8 feet 2 inches. Please remember to bring your parking ticket to the Box Office for validation!

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