Book A Tour
When you book a tour at the Columbia Museum of Art, you not only get insights from a docent guide, you also save on admission and pay just $11 per person. When your tour is over, please continue exploring the galleries for as long as you'd like!
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Look Longer, Delve Deeper, Make Meaning
Experience the Columbia Museum of Art’s galleries with your own personal tour guide. Book a tour with one of our knowledgeable docents and you’ll get to know the works of art and the stories they can tell. Discover hidden histories and deeper meanings behind the artworks and the people who made them as you explore the CMA’s varied collections and featured exhibitions.
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Our Approach
We believe that art is for everyone. Whether you’re an art afficionado or trying something new, our tours are for you. Guided tour experiences are designed to inspire as they inform. Our skilled docents use art as a springboard for discussions that allow everyone to bring their own experiences and ideas while also sharing information, insights, and fascinating back stories about the art and the people who made it.
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Why the CMA?
The museum boasts 27 galleries and is the state’s only international art museum, featuring a collection of art that spans centuries and continents. The CMA is on Main Street, right in the heart of downtown Columbia. Visitors can complement their tour with time spent out on scenic Boyd Plaza, enjoying our air conditioned indoor seating areas, or by exploring the many dining, shopping, and cultural options in the Main Street District.
The CMA’s public spaces, doors, and restrooms are accessible and ADA compliant, and we offer wheelchairs, rollators, and portable stools to borrow. Personal direct audio amplification devices are available for tours upon request.
Exhibitions with Tours Available
Collection Tours Include
Cornerstones of the Collection
From corner to corner, see key works in the collection from around the globe and from ancient to modern. This tour includes gems by artists like Renée Cox, Andy Warhol, and Sandro Botticelli, along with the first piece ever purchased by the CMA.
Carolina in the Collection
Discover the rich artistic tapestry of South Carolina. See works by artists in our state and treasures that once adorned local homes. Learn about the Charleston Renaissance, and artists right here in Columbia while you explore works by Osamu Kobayashi, Richard Samuel Roberts, Frank Lloyd Wright, and more.
Behind the Collection
Get a glimpse into the story behind the art: the science to create the materials, the lives that shaped the artists' views, the thinking that leads a museum to acquire a piece, and the care that's required to keep a work of art in excellent condition for thousands of years.
Please book at least 4 weeks prior to your visit. To book, follow the links below. Personal direct audio amplification devices are available upon request. Questions? Call 803-343-2163 or email tours@columbiamuseum.org. Also, see our Group Tour Guidelines.
- Pre-K - 12 School Groups
The CMA's education programs are recognized for their inquiry-based approach and content that is tied to state standards. Participatory gallery tours are offered in concert with hands-on creative projects in the studios.
Note: All school groups, including self-guided groups, must have a reservation.
Pricing and Information
- School group pricing is only available at $5 per student.
- Required number of chaperones free (one adult per 10 students); $11 per extra chaperone
- Free or reduced admission for First Thursday on Main does not apply to group tours.
- Minimum of 10 students
- Boyd Plaza, in front of the museum, is a lovely spot for enjoying bag lunches.
Our Art for All School Tours, free for Title I schools with a stipend for transportation, are supported by the Lipscomb Family Foundation, the Coles Family Foundation of Central Carolina Community Foundation, and the Sonoco Foundation.
- Adults
Docent-Led Tour
Want to dig deeper into the stories behind the work on view? Want to learn more about the objects and their histories? Schedule an in-depth tour of the CMA's collection or traveling exhibition for your group. Guided tours are led by the museum's dedicated Docent Corps and are a great way to develop a deeper understanding of the museum's collection and exhibitions.
- $11 per person admission
- $50 non-refundable reservation deposit fee
- Free or reduced admission for First Thursday on Main does not apply to group tours.
- Minimum of 10 individuals
- College Groups
Instructors are invited to bring their classes to explore the galleries self-guided or with a docent-led tour. If you want to have your students sketch in the galleries, review our policy below. College groups will receive school tour pricing.
Pricing and Information
- School group pricing is only available at $5 per student
- Free or reduced admission for First Thursday on Main does not apply to group tours.
- Minimum of 10 students
- Boyd Plaza, in front of the museum, is a lovely spot for enjoying bag lunches on sunny days
Sketching in the Galleries
Sketching, in pencil only, is permitted in all the second floor collection galleries of the Columbia Museum of Art for non-commercial purposes, provided that the following rules are followed. Sketching is also permitted in most special exhibitions; please inquire at the visitor services desk about current exhibitions and guidelines.
- Paper or sketchbooks should not exceed 14 x 17 inches. Easels are not permitted.
- Never point at a work using your pencil or any other object. Please do not touch the works for any reason.
- A reasonable distance must be maintained from the work to allow a clear view for others who may wish to observe the work.
- During times of high volume visitation, sketching may be restricted. Sketching is permitted only in locations that do not obstruct an entrance or exit, do not compromise the safety or security of the artwork and/or other CMA visitors, and do not obstruct the view of the art.
- Home School Parents and Leaders of Multi-Age Groups
The CMA is an excellent resource for home-schooled students and multi-age groups. We recommend grouping children by age and grade level whenever possible. If you are planning a self-directed visit, we recommend that group leaders visit the museum prior to the group visit.
Groups of less than 10 don't need to make a reservation. Groups of 10 or more should schedule their visit through the museum's group tour coordinator, even if not requesting a guided tour, to assure the best visit possible. The group tour coordinator can advise you on the best days and times to avoid peak hours. Requests outside of the museum's public hours will require an additional non-refundable $50 deposit if we are able to accommodate (school tours excluded).
Touch Tours
Touch Tours provide an opportunity for visitors who are blind or have low vision to experience the diverse 3D work in the CMA Collection. Explore the galleries with a skilled museum educator trained to provide detailed verbal description of the work on view, while experiencing a selection of objects through touch and other senses.
Touch Tours are available to visitors who are blind or partially sighted in groups of 5 to 10. These 90-minute tours take place when the galleries are closed to the general public and require four weeks’ advance notice to schedule. To book a tour call 803-343-2163 or email tours@columbiamuseum.org.
Upcoming Public Tours
Group Tour Guidelines
Arrival Time: Please arrange for your group to arrive fifteen minutes before your scheduled program.
Late Arrival: Flat tire? Bad weather? Sick child? Please call us if you know that you are running late! We will make every effort to accommodate you or to reschedule the program. Remember that tours are tightly scheduled. Groups that fail to arrive within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time without prior approval will forfeit their reservation. No exceptions.
Group Size: A minimum of ten students (school groups) or adults (adult groups) constitute a group.
Payment: School or group tour fees are due upon the time of arrival and are requested to be paid in one transaction. Free or reduced admission for memberships, First Thursday on Main, or other reciprocal discounts does not apply to group tours.
Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Other Changes: The museum will work with you to select another date if needed; however, rescheduled dates are subject to availability. Call 803-343-2163 or email tours@columbiamuseum.org if you need to cancel or reschedule your reservation. Also, please let us know if the size of your group varies from that listed on your confirmation. If your group decreases to fewer than ten participants, you are still required to pay the minimum group rate.
Special Needs: Please inform us of any special needs that your group members may have when you book your reservation. This allows our staff adequate time to ensure that these needs are met. For those with physical disabilities, the museum offers full accessibility.