Ikon provides guided gallery tours for groups of six people and over. In order to ensure your visit is a success, please note the following guidelines:
Advanced booking
Advanced booking is essential and group visits must be booked in at least two weeks in advance of your visit. Please contact the Education Team to book your group visit.
Group sizes
Guided tours can only be provided for groups of six people or more. A maximum of 40 people can be accommodated at any one time but please note that groups of more than 20 people may be divided into two. Occasionally, the maximum group size is revised due to the nature and/or layout of the exhibition and this information will be provided at the time of booking.
Tour content
Guided gallery tours are always tailored to the age range and interests of the group. We are therefore happy to discuss the exhibition and gallery programme beforehand to ensure that you get the most out of your visit. There is also an opportunity to ‘Meet the Education Team’ at the beginning of each exhibition. Click here for details of the next session.
Please note that Ikon is committed to presenting the work of contemporary artists whose work can occasionally contain adult content. Group leaders, teachers and those booking visits will be advised of this beforehand.
Bespoke workshops
Ikon’s Education & Interpretation team can also design and facilitate practical workshops and activities that enable participants to explore the themes within an exhibition more fully. Such activities usually take place in Ikon’s Events Room, a flexible space used by Ikon for education workshops, larger talks and small exhibitions. Prices for such workshops are available on request, please contact the Education Team for further details.
Arrival at Ikon
Upon arrival at the gallery, please report to the reception desk in the foyer where your group will be met by a member of the Education & Interpretation team. If it is available, coats and bags can be stored in the Events Room.
Managing your group
Group leaders will be expected to stay with the group throughout the duration of the visit and are responsible for the behaviour of their party. It is vital that the group behaves safely in the galleries, which will also be open to the public at the same time of the visit. Please ensure that mobile phones are switched off.
The Education & Interpretation team usually require the following numbers of leaders to participants:
- Key Stage 3 and above
1 group leader for every 10 participants
- Primary groups
1 group leader for every 5 participants
Due to the delicate nature of exhibits, it is sometimes necessary to increase this leader participant ratio.
Access
To find out more about Ikon’s accessible facilities, please visit the access section.
Facilities
Also located at the gallery is Ikon Shop, Birmingham’s only specialist art bookshop and Café Ikon, serving predominantly Spanish food and specialising in tapas and paella. There is also a Resource Room on the second floor which houses interpretative material about the exhibitions on display.
Time-keeping
It is vital that the whole group arrives on time and please notify the gallery if you are unable to keep your appointment.