• Learning MOCA Toronto

Learning Resources for Teachers


Introducing MOCA Educator Exhibition Resources! Use these guides to learn about MOCA’s exhibiting artists and their work, either in the gallery or remotely in your classroom. They include curriculum connections, guiding questions, and additional resources to help shape conversations and extend learning.

Educator Resource:
Fatma Bucak & Krista Belle Stewart Acts of Erasure

Educator Resource:
Yazan Khalili Medusa

School Visits Update

School visits and group tours are currently unavailable. We are closely monitoring the situation with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Toronto Public Health. We look forward to resuming when we can guarantee the health and safety of all our visitors and staff. Visit our Learning at Home blog for all-ages activities!

Turn MOCA into your classroom

Guided Visits MOCA TorontoK–12 and post-secondary student groups of 10 or more are invited to engage with artwork by international artists across all contemporary art forms, debating and sharing ideas along the way. Join us for a guided tour or self-guided visit — or participate in one of our studio activities.

Guided Tours

Guided tours offer students of all ages a closer look at our exhibitions. Led by one of our trained Visitor Experience Guides, they run approximately 45 minutes and are designed to foster discussion and exchange. Max. 30 people.

Self-Guided Visits

Self-guided visits allow school groups to explore the museum however they like. Students may download audio guides for additional context, while MOCA staff stationed throughout the museum will be available to answer any questions they may have along the way. Max. 60 people.

Guided Tour & Studio Activity

Adding a studio activity to your guided tour gives students of all ages a unique opportunity to deepen their engagement with exhibition themes through a facilitated, hands-on activity. Max. 30 people. Note: Studio activities run 90 minutes and are preceded by a 30-minute tour.

“I was really impressed by our tour guide … her complex and thoughtful understanding of the exhibitions was evident. She tied in the themes we’re exploring in the course and presented the content in a way that was engaging and responsive to the needs of the group.”

—Mary Porter, Instructor, OCAD University

Explore. Engage. Enrich.

During their visit to MOCA, your students will have an opportunity to:

  • Converse, ask questions and think critically as they interpret artworks by local and international artists across all contemporary art forms
  • Consider new perspectives and issues that are relevant and urgent in today’s world
  • Personally connect with the topics presented in our exhibitions
  • Learn about MOCA’s adaptive reuse of a landmark heritage building and explore the culturally rich Junction Triangle neighbourhood

“Our students had an incredible time exploring the new exhibit at MOCA [The Life of a Dead Tree]

—Rebecca McClaren, Trinity Theatre

School Group Pricing

The following pricing applies to individuals in groups of 10 or more. For standard pricing, please refer to our Visit page.

Guided tours: Additional fee of $60 per group applies
Guided tour & studio activity: Additional fee of $150 per group applies

Admission:

Adult (18+): $8
Student with ID (18+): $5
Senior (65+): $5
Under 18: Free

Guided student tours include up to 3 free adult tickets for chaperones.

Questions?

Learning Coordinator
learning@mocalegacy.webpreview.site

FAQs

Arriving at MOCA

If travelling by bus

Buses can pull up in front of the museum on Sterling Rd. for drop off and pick up only.

If travelling by public transit

MOCA is located near both Lansdowne and Dundas West stations on the TTC’s Bloor subway line, as well as the UP Express–Bloor station. We are a 10-minute walk away from all three stations. Please note: Dundas West is an accessible station, while Lansdowne is not. 

The closest streetcar stop is at the corner of Dundas St. West and Sterling Rd., which can be reached by both the 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton streetcars. We are a 5-minute walk north from the streetcar stop.

When you arrive

Upon arrival, enter the museum through the main front doors on Sterling Rd. Teachers and/or chaperones may proceed to the Welcome Desk to check in and purchase or print their group tickets. You will be greeted by a Visitor Experience Guide who will provide your group with an introduction to MOCA and walk you through some housekeeping notes (lockers, coat rack, nearest bathrooms, gallery guidelines, etc.). If you have booked a guided visit, your Visitor Experience Guide will bring the group to the south end of Floor 1 to begin the tour.

Supervision

Teachers and/or chaperones are responsible for their students during the entire visit. We recommend a supervisor-to-student ratio of 1:10. Supervisors are asked to ensure that their students are mindful of both artwork and fellow visitors, keeping noise levels low wherever possible.

Lunch

MOCA does not have a lunch space for school groups and does not have water fountains available, so be sure to bring food and pre-filled water bottles for your visit. Food and drink are permitted on Floor 1 only. 

MOCA’s café partner, Forno Cultura, is located on Floor 1 and offers light fare such as sandwiches, biscotti, coffee and a range of beverages.

The Drake Commissary (128a Sterling Rd.) is nearby and serves coffee, beverages, pastries, and a few ready-to-eat items, in addition to their full dine-in menu.

A few fast-casual options are within a 10-minute walk from the museum, including KIBO Market (Bloor St. and Symington Ave.), Tim Hortons (College St. and Lansdowne Ave.), and Starbucks (Dundas St. W and Roncesvalles Ave). 

Banner photo by Gabriel Li.