Art sparks curiosity and conversation among young learners at LACMA.
Photo by East West Bank.
Expanding Access to Arts Education in Los Angeles
Art has the power to spark creativity and empathy—offering new ways to see the world. At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), that power is being channeled into a reimagined program where thousands of K–12 students from schools throughout Los Angeles County explore art in ways that encourage curiosity and self-expression.
For years, LACMA’s student tours relied on volunteers. Not anymore: With support from East West Bank, the program has transitioned to a team of professional, paid gallery educators and a full-time school tour coordinator—ensuring consistent and engaging experiences for students.
From Volunteers to Educator-Led Museum Tours
“When this gift was brought up to us, we were really excited because we were able to fast-track plans we'd had in mind for a couple of years,” said Gabriela Martinez, LACMA's director of gallery learning.
The educator-led tours debuted in fall 2024 with a 29-week soft launch that welcomed about 20,000 students. In 2025, the program is expanding to serve roughly 35,000 students annually—a 50% increase from previous capacity. By 2033, LACMA aims to reach 300,000 K-12 students countywide, making arts engagement more accessible than ever.
How LACMA’s Student Tours Inspire Creativity
Students explore artworks ranging from ancient objects to contemporary installations through guided observation and discussion. An open-ended, inquiry-based approach encourages personal connections—whether sketching quietly, mimicking a sculpture’s pose or sharing a memory.
Festival in a Village Plaza, Mexico, West Mexico, Nayarit, Nayarit, 200 BCE – 500 CE, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of the Sweeney Family.
Photo © Museum Associates/LACMA.
A favorite piece is a small sculpture of an ancient Mexican village mid-fiesta, complete with tiny houses and a circle of celebrants:
“Our educators might ask students to find a character in the diorama they identify with,” said Martinez. “Where would they want to be in that scene? What celebration from their own lives feels similar?”
“These prompts open multiple pathways for engagement,” said gallery educator Paola Mathus Garza. “We focus on experiences where students can follow their curiosity and really engage with the artwork in a way that shows them that these spaces are for them.”
Each visit ends with a postcard-style handout featuring an artwork, interpretive prompts and a QR code linking to digital resources. This simple memento extends learning into classrooms and homes, encouraging family participation.
Helping Students Reconnect Through Art Post-Pandemic
A moment of reflection and connection in the gallery space.
Photo by East West Bank.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many younger students missed formative years of in-person learning. LACMA’s tours now offer a space to build foundational skills.
Martinez explained, “We really found, coming out of lockdown when we reopened, that a lot of little children had not had a communal experience at all. They had gone from being little babies, and then they had done their first couple of years of schooling at home. Teachers were looking to socialize students back to the greater world, so giving them the opportunity to talk and think about their emotions through art was really important.”
The galleries provide a safe and welcoming environment where students can navigate difficult conversations or emotions—sometimes even grief—through artistic expression.
Looking Ahead: The David Geffen Galleries and Future School Tours
Aerial view of LACMA buildings, including David Geffen Galleries in context of Miracle Mile.
Photo © Iwan Baan.
Martinez is looking forward to the opening of LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries in April 2026. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor, the new building spans Wilshire Boulevard and unites works from across cultures and timelines on one level—pairing paintings and sculptures with textiles, ceramics and everyday objects.
“There will be exciting juxtapositions of high art with things we don't always consider fine art, like shawls and service ware,” Martinez said. “I think visitors will feel encouraged to make those personal connections to their everyday lives.”
Long-Term Sponsorship Ensures Student Tour Growth
For more than a decade, East West has collaborated with LACMA to share collections, launch pioneering initiatives and connect a wide range of audiences with art. Building on that history, the Bank announced a 10-year corporate sponsorship to support the museum’s transformation, future exhibitions and education-focused programming from 2024 to 2033.
“It's really important that we have this long-term partnership with East West Bank,” Martinez said. “As a museum educator, I have partnered in many corporate-sponsored programs that weren't always sustainable. They were very short-term and might change at the whim of a funder from year to year. Knowing that we have this long-term support gives us the opportunity to really refine the program and identify the most effective way of delivering high-quality experiences to students.”
The partnership reflects a shared belief in the arts as a bridge—connecting communities and providing young people with opportunities to explore their creativity, emotional growth and critical-thinking skills.
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