Eyes this way. In Portrait School your students will discover Australia’s most creative and innovative thinkers and achievers. Through close engagement with the portraits, these programs are dynamic, participatory and encourage collaboration and critical thinking; and include a variety of creative activities that cater for different learning preferences.
Access programs are provided for students of all ages and abilities; including programs for students with low vision or hard of hearing. Tailored programs are available upon request, with advance notice.
Group size is 15 students per Gallery staff. (Preschool, Foundation and Year 1 group size 10). Maximum group size 60 per program. Adult supervision is required at all times. Student behaviour, safety and security are the responsibility of the visiting educator.
On arrival you will be met by Gallery staff. Students are asked to please leave their bags on their bus. Aim to arrive 10 minutes before the start of your program.
If you have any queries or additional requirements, please email bookings@npg.gov.au
The Book Canberra Excursions portal is the primary way to book our onsite programs.
Portrait school programs and fees
We have five topics you can choose from: Visual art; Civics and citizenship; History; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activism; and Visual Thinking Strategies™.
The programs run for 60–90 minutes. Teachers free of charge. If you’re wanting to beam in for a virtual excursion from across the country, good news, they’re free! If you're reading this from overseas, please email us at bookings@npg.gov.au for costs.
For bookings made after the 1st of March 2023 our prices will be as follows:
| Premium facilitated program (Years 4 to 12) | 90 minutes | $9 per student |
| Facilitated program (Preschool to year 12) | 60 minutes | $6 per student |
| Headhunt! (Years 5 to 9) | 60 minutes | $3 per student |
| Headhunt! evening program (Years 5 to 9) | 60 minutes | $6 per student |
| Virtual Excursion | 60 minutes | free |
In some instances, visits to the National Portrait Gallery can count for PACER rebate purposes when booking a civics and citizenship or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activism program. See information on alternative arrangements to apply when your school cannot book into either MOAD or the National Electoral Education Centre at pacer.org.au.
Available Programs
Visual art
Our visual art programs investigate ways students can interpret portraits. They’ll look at aspects of biography, identity and culture; look at portraits that use different styles and media; and learn through discussion, activity and drawing.
History
Our history programs identify significant historical periods, events and ideas through key individuals who have shaped Australia’s social, economic, political and cultural developments. Students will explore portraits through visual analysis, contrast and compare works from different eras, pictorial representation; and discover how portraits can be used as historical documents.
Civics and citizenship
In these programs we emphasise recognition of individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields of endeavour who have excelled and contributed to society. Students will discover ways to examine the portraits of significant Australians – past and present – through discussion and drawing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements and activism
This program identifies significant events and ideas in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, through key individuals who have shaped the political and cultural developments involved. Students will explore portraits via visual analysis, debate and pictorial representation; and discover how portraits can be used as historical documents.
Headhunt
Our award-winning, interactive app encourages children aged 6 to 16 to take the lead and independently explore the virtual Portrait Gallery, to look closely at the portraits that intrigue them, to investigate the artistic elements of the work and to learn about the incredible stories of the people featured.
Visual Thinking Strategies™
In collaboration with Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS™ New York), we present critical thinking and visual literacy programs for all levels of education. In them we incorporate concepts of ‘close looking’; verbalising observations and backing up theories with evidence, close listening and developing the skill to simultaneously hold different and sometimes conflicting ideas as possibilities.. Students are provided with new skills to navigate and critically examine our image-saturated world. The emphasis is on discussion-based, student-centric learning.
We have a number of ways you can engage in VTS with us:
- Choose a VTS program for your students when you book a program.
- Attend one of our VTS programs for teachers.
- Consider making your school a VTS partner with us. You can visit us with students or we can live stream with VTS programs into your classroom.
Bookings
Want to book in for any (or all) of these programs? The Book Canberra Excursions portal is the primary way to book our onsite programs.
