Guided School Group Visits (K-12)
The Education Department at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is committed to providing exceptional educational programming that explores themes rooted in identity, social justice, community, and civil rights. Through engaging and interactive experiences, students gain the opportunity to learn the history, culture, and contributions of Mexican, Mexican Americans, and Latinos in Southern California.
Guidelines:
- Priority is given to Title I schools.
- We can accommodate a maximum of 15-50 students.
- We require one chaperone for every eight students.
- School group reservations are two hours long, beginning promptly at 10am and ending at 12pm. This includes a 45-minute guided gallery exploration and a 45-minute art workshop.
- Groups must arrive at 9:45am (15 minutes before their scheduled 10am tour time).
- There are no fees for qualifying schools.
Bus Grant Program
Since opening to the public in 2011, LA Plaza has strived to provide accessible and equitable opportunities for students across Los Angeles. LA Plaza’s Bus Grant Program is part of inclusive efforts to provide Title I schools, students, and educators access to bus transportation for guided field trips to LA Plaza.
Guidelines:
- Teachers and non-profit organizations that serve Title I students are invited to apply.
- Funding is for buses only and cannot be used for other modes of transportation.
- Schools are responsible for making bus arrangements for their visit.
- Submitting a Bus Grant Application does not guarantee a grant award.
- Grants will be issued in the amount of $750 maximum.
- Schools will be responsible for fees incurred beyond $750.
- If awarded a grant, the school/district must provide LA Plaza with an invoice for payment no later than 30 days after their school visit or by June 30, 2025.
- LA Plaza will not be responsible for invoices received after June 30, 2025.
Submit a Reservation Request & Bus Grant Application
We thank you for your interest in attending a guided school tour for Spring 2025 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. We have reached capacity for reservation request applications. Please check back in the Summer for Fall reservations.
Tour Options
Each tour option below includes:
- Guided Gallery Exploration (45 minutes)
- Art Workshop (45 minutes)
- Lunch Space Reservation
Calle Principal: Mi México en Los Ángeles
Grades: TK-3
Offered: January – May
Travel back in time with us to 1920s, Main Street, Los Angeles! Through inquiry-based activities and interactive explorations, students explore the presence of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the 1920s, compare the past and present, and share their own family history and stories. Students engage with objects in store-front vignettes: dress up in 1920s fashion in a department store, smell medicinal herbs in a pharmacy, or shop for groceries in Mercado Plaza.
Art Workshop Component: Students will dive deeper into the themes of community and community helpers through an immersive art workshop.
CA State Standards covered: Language Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
LA Starts Here!
Grades: 4-12
Offered: January – May
Explore the vast history of Los Angeles from the 1800s to the 1930s! Through inquiry and object-based teaching, students explore the city’s origins from the city’s indigenous beginning through the unconstitutional deportation of Mexican and Mexican Americans. Personal narratives, photographs, and objects encourage students to think critically about the shaping of identity while reflecting on their own personal connections to history.
Art Workshop Component: Students will explore the impact of their voice and its expression through art.
CA State Standards covered: History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition
Grades: K-12
Offered: April – May
Did you know the modern tradition of celebrating Cinco de Mayo started with Latinos in California in 1862? Learn about the historical context of this celebration and how it is rooted in community activism. Through inquiry and object-based teaching students will make connections to the past and present.
Art Workshop Component: Students will participate in an immersive art workshop that connects to the history and art of Puebla, Mexico and historical figures.
CA State Standards covered: History and Social Science, Visual Arts