School Programs
School Groups
Engage students in art, history, and botanical gardens with a field trip to Cheekwood. Cheekwood offers FREE ADMISSION for teachers and students with school groups from Tennessee, Southern Kentucky and Northern Alabama.
Students in grades pre-K-12 can explore the botanical gardens, experience the historic Cheek mansion, and tour art exhibitions in the museum galleries. Guided tours are grade level- and subject area-appropriate and are aligned with Tennessee Academic Standards.
• Tours are available Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• The minimum group size for scheduling field trips is 10 students. Groups smaller than 10 students must pay regular admission prices.
• The maximum group size for guided tours is 80 students and 150 for self-guided tours. Larger groups will be asked to schedule their tours on separate dates.
• Students and teachers are admitted free of charge. Adult chaperones (non-school employees) are required to pay the group rate of $16/person.
• Each guided tour lasts between 30 minutes to one hour. Self-guided tours are self-paced and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.
• Advanced reservations are required for all guided and self-guided tours.
• Teachers may be asked to present their teacher ID upon arrival.
Rain policy:
- Cheekwood reserves the right to cancel guided tours in the case of rain and/or inclement weather.
- Cancelled tours will be notified one day in advance of the scheduled tour date and will be given the opportunity to reschedule.
- Due to construction, we currently do not have the capacity to host field trip groups indoors. If you fear rain may interfere with your group’s outdoor experience, please contact Rachel to reschedule.
- Cheekwood anticipates regaining our capacity to host field trip groups indoors by the summer of 2018.
Contact Rachel Head at rhead@cheekwood.org if you have any questions.
Free school tours are made possible, in part, by the M. Stratton Foster Foundation and by funds raised through Cheekwood’s annual FALL FOR CHEEKWOOD Family Benefit.
Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Home School Day 2018
Join Cheekwood for Home School Day on August 15 from 9:00-2:30 pm. In the spirit of Cheekwood’s current exhibit Cracking Art, this year’s program carries the theme “Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine!”
The day’s sustainability-focused activities include learning recycling basics and creating an upcycled craft with Metro Public Works; making your own animal art from recycled objects with Turnip Green Creative Reuse; participating in a collaborative art collage using recycled materials; and more.
In addition to these educational activities, docent-led guided tours will also be available. Tours will be offered for the Japanese Garden, the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail, the Cheek Mansion, and the indoor Cracking Art installation.
Food will be available for purchase onsite from Dawg Daze, Puckett’s, and Bradley’s Curbside Creamery food trucks. Families are also welcomed to bring picnic lunches to enjoy on the grounds.
Admission to this event is FREE for home school students. Special pricing, which includes parking fees, is available for all accompanying adults:
Early Bird Online Registration (until August 1): $18
Advance Online Registration (August 1-August 14): $20
Day-of Sales (at the door and online on August 15): $23
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Event will occur rain or shine.
Registration for this event is required.
Contact Rachel Draper at rdraper@cheekwood.org if you have questions.
Art Outreach
Grades 3-5
Cost: FREE!
Capacity: up to 120 students
Art Outreach brings Cheekwood-inspired, hands-on art and science lessons to your school. During Art Outreach, students will explore landscape architecture by learning about Cheekwood’s history and dive into Cheekwood’s permanent art collection by critically examining selected pieces. Additional stations focus on temporary art and seasonal garden exhibitions. After rotating through these Cheekwood teacher-led stations, students bring home their masterpieces at the end of the day.
During the 2018-19 school year, 100% of teachers that participated in this program said that Art Outreach satisfied or exceeded their expectations and that they would recommend it to their colleagues.
Cheekwood Explorations
Grades 3-6
Cost: FREE!
Capacity: up to 120 students
“Most of my students have never been to Cheekwood before, so this trip is really eye-opening for them. Plus, they’re learning so much and having fun while they’re at it!”
-Teacher from Wilson County
During this program, students are brought to Cheekwood for a day of hands-on plant and animal science activities in the gardens. The program is offered at no cost to schools; Cheekwood pays for bus transportation and admission for teachers, students, and chaperones.
Destination Cheekwood
K-8 students and their families
Cost: FREE!
Capacity: up to 120 people
Destination Cheekwood brings families to Cheekwood on a Saturday for a visit filled with art, garden, and historical experiences and activities. Transportation, admission, activities, and lunch are provided, giving families the opportunity to enjoy the best of Cheekwood’s seasonal festivals.
Click the button below to submit an application form.
The Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition
The Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition
Since 1992 Cheekwood has had the honor of presenting the Scholastic Art Competition and Exhibition for Middle Tennessee. The Scholastic Art Competition is an opportunity for students in grades 7-12 to receive recognition for excellence in visual arts.
The 2019 competition opens for online submissions in September and closes on December 13. See Scholastic’s “How to Enter” webpage for instructions on submitting works.
More information on the 2019 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition will be available soon.
Click here to see a list of the 2018 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Award Winners.
Click here to access the Middle Tennessee Art Region page, which contains deadlines and further information on participation.
Click here to see previous year’s winning works on Scholastic’s Online Gallery.