ARTS LAB: Field Trips
Contemporary art is a powerful launchpad for curiosity, creative thinking and interdisciplinary learning. Formerly known as School Group Visits, ARTS LAB: Field Trips is Oklahoma Contemporary’s refreshed field trip experience, designed to support what students are learning in the classroom and where they're headed next. Through active engagement with art and ideas, students build critical thinking skills and make meaningful connections to STEAM concepts and Individual Career Academic Planning (ICAP) goals.
During each 120-minute visit, students will explore current exhibitions with a gallery guide and create original artwork in our hands-on studio space. Every field trip includes an art-making component, ensuring all students engage directly with the creative process. Our inquiry-based approach centers student voices and encourages thoughtful questioning, backed by museum education best practices and research. Visits are free for all schools, with transportation reimbursement available for Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) and Title I schools.
Field trips are available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with morning or afternoon time slots. We can host up to 50 students per visit. Trips must be requested at least three weeks in advance, and we recommend reaching out early to reserve your preferred date.
Choose Your ARTS LAB Theme
All themes are designed for grades 3 to 12 and align with Oklahoma Visual Art Standards. Each experience includes a guided tour and a connected art-making project.
In the Studio: Students step into the world of the artist, exploring how professionals use materials, tools and ideas to express their vision. Through guided discussion in the galleries and hands-on making in the studio, students will experiment, take creative risks and experience the art-making process from concept to creation.
Creative Career Pathways: Students discover how creativity drives a wide range of professions, both in and beyond the arts. This theme highlights the roles behind museum exhibitions and encourages students to reflect on their own strengths and future career goals, supporting ICAP priorities.
Art + STEAM: Thinking Across Disciplines: Investigate how contemporary artists use science, technology, engineering and math as part of their creative process. Students will explore materials and methods in the galleries and apply interdisciplinary thinking in their own studio work.
How to Book Your ARTS LAB Field Trip
Ready to bring your class?
- Choose the theme that best fits your students' needs.
- Fill out the Field Trip Request Form here with your preferred theme, grade level and three potential dates.
- A member of our team will follow up to confirm your visit.
Have questions before you book? Reach out to us anytime at tours@okcontemp.org.
