Touch Art tour

Tours for Visitors with Special Needs

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is handicap accessible and visitors of all ages and abilities are welcome. We offer these programs for visitors with special needs.

TOUCH ART TOURS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS (max. 4 people)

Wearing gloves, visitors will be able to touch carefully selected sculptures in the KIA permanent and study collections. Docents will assist guests and provide verbal descriptions.

Touch Art Tours:

  • Develop exploration skills, texture sensitivity and manual dexterity.
  • Increase socialization skills and self-esteem.
  • Engage critical thinking and language skills in a cooperative learning environment.
  • Provide lifelong learning opportunities within a local cultural institution.
  • Support curriculum expectations for history, visual arts and language

Touch Art Tours are by reservation only. Most tours are one hour in length. To schedule a Touch Art Tour click here.

Coming soon! Tours of KIA paintings featuring verbal descriptions, touchable objects and iPads.

CONNECTIONS: TOURS FOR ADULTS WITH MEMORY LOSS
Designed specifically for adults with memory loss issues like Dementia and Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. Connections Tours provide a quiet atmosphere where the visitors can engage with the art, the docent and others in respectful conversation. Groups are small (maximum of 8 visitors plus caregivers) and tours are conducted on Mondays, when the museum is closed to the public. Choose from the following themes:

  • The Five Senses-Art can be a feast for all our senses.

  • A Sense of Place-A look at the places we live and love.

  • The Stories of Us-How art can tell stories about our lives.

  • America the Beautiful-Art about our country, its people and its history.

  • Ways of Seeing-How artists look at the world in different ways.

  • Michigan Connections-Art and Artists tied to the Great Lakes State.

    If you would like to schedule a Connections Tour for your organization, click here for more information.

    Touch Art and Connections Tours are supported by the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation, EATON and Kalamazoo Rotary.