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New York Art & Design School Trips & Tours

An art and design school trip to New York offers pupils the chance to see some of the most dynamic contemporary art in the world. This ever-evolving art and design scene is home to influential, modern art museums including the Guggenheim and MoMA, plus you’ll find an outstanding selection of photography museums here too.

A study tour to this dazzling destination will leave your pupils feeling excited and inspired. From the bright lights of Broadway to the array of galleries and visits found here, this is a truly exciting destination. With unbeatable sketching and photography opportunities, your pupils will find endless subject matter for their work. Plus, by booking your trip to New York with NST, you’re guaranteed the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and leisure experiences, all at fantastic group prices.  

Sample itinerary

Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.

Morning Afternoon Evening
1 Daytime flight from Ireland. Met on arrival by a local Agent Representative for an escorted transfer to accommodation Ascend Empire State Building
2 MoMA Sketching time Shopping & sightseeing
3 The Guggenheim Metropolitan Museum of Art Free time
4 Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum Sightseeing, shopping or sketching time Free time
5 Free time - explore the National September 11 Memorial & shop at Century 21 shopping centre Transfer to airport for overnight return flight to Ireland
6 Arrive in Ireland
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  • 6
Morning Daytime flight from Ireland. Met on arrival by a local Agent Representative for an escorted transfer to accommodation
Afternoon Ascend Empire State Building
Evening
Morning MoMA
Afternoon Sketching time
Evening Shopping & sightseeing
Morning The Guggenheim
Afternoon Metropolitan Museum of Art
Evening Free time
Morning Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum
Afternoon Sightseeing, shopping or sketching time
Evening Free time
Morning Free time - explore the National September 11 Memorial & shop at Century 21 shopping centre
Afternoon Transfer to airport for overnight return flight to Ireland
Evening
Morning Arrive in Ireland
Afternoon
Evening

On-tour support

On-tour support includes...

Additional on-tour support available...

  • Pre-booked meals at great group prices
  • Pre-booked and pre-paid subway tickets

Accommodation

Popular options in New York


Top visits

New Museum of Contemporary Art

The only museum worldwide that is exclusively devoted to presenting contemporary art from around the world. A leading destination for new art and new ideas, the museum exhibits innovative and abstract contemporary art from around the world. This museum is geared towards those with a serious interest in contemporary art who have studied it enough to be able to penetrate the odd styles and symbolism used in the art on display.

Brooklyn Graffiti & Street Art Excursion

Take a tour of the Graff Tours Mural Project in the impressive Bushwick Brooklyn Neighborhood where more than 25 multicolored murals transform a swath of warehouse buildings into a vast outdoor art gallery, Learn the stories behind the walls and the process of how they are created while helping support the local artist community. Admire some of the best street art in the world from the likes of Don Rimx, MenaceResa, Jason Naylor and many many more. See the best street art in NYC in this artist neighborhood before its too late.

Radio City Art Deco Tour

The Art Deco tour takes guests through the innovative mind of interior designer, Donald Deskey, who incorporated his love for the ‘new’ Art Deco motif in an elaborate portfolio that garnered him the commission of a lifetime.

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

The only US museum devoted to historic and contemporary design. Offers centuries of achievement in the art of design. The department of Applied Arts and Industrial Design is an ideal visit for students focusing on vocational aspects of art and design, from graphics, architecture, textiles, theatre, interior and virtually any other creative pursuit.

Guggenheim Museum

A unique museum containing leading examples of Expressionism, Cubism and Abstraction. Offers modern creations associated with major movements. Representations are generally from the latter part of the 19th century. Boasting artists such as Klee, Leger, Mondrian, with a general leaning towards the abstract.

International Center of Photography

As digital photography becomes more popular as a study topic, an increasing number of our groups are taking this visit to create an itinerary which touches upon all forms of media. Take a tailored guided or self-guided tour around this museum which explores the possibilities of the photographic medium through acclaimed exhibitions and education programmes.

Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney places an emphasis on exhibiting the work of living artists. Focusing on 20th and 21st century American art, the Whitney’s collection contains more than 18,000 works in a variety of media by renowned artists including Pollock, Hopper and Warhol.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York’s premier cultural attraction is one of the world’s greatest repositories of art. Offers paintings, sculpture, furniture and all manner of precious objects from across the continents and ancient civilisations. An excellent foundation of inspiration for those interested in the work of other cultures.

The Frick Collection

One of the superior small art museums in the United States. Includes some of the best-known paintings by the greatest European artists, major works of sculpture, Limoges enamels and other works of remarkable quality.

Neue Galerie New York

Found on the city’s famed Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. This museum of early 20th century art is divided into two sections – German art and Austrian art and includes a variety of artwork by artists such as Klimt, Kandinsky and Klee.

9/11 Tribute Center

Self-guided visit to museum galleries - learn about the events of 9/11 through authentic personal experiences. Five immersive environments provide first person perspective through videos, artifacts, photos and personal stories. 9/11 memorial guided tours also available with this visit – guided by those who personally experienced the events.

9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2011 in a ceremony for victims’ families. The memorial honours the 2,983 who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The memorial allows visitors to come together again in the spirit of unity and courage that emerged in the wake of 9/11. The memorial consists of two pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers, surrounded by a plaza of more than 400 trees. The names of the victims are inscribed in bronze around the pools.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Opened in 2014, the museum explores the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring 9/11’s continuing significance. It demonstrates the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and its impact on communities at local, national and international level. The museum is growing a permanent collection of artefacts, stories, photos, video and other materials.

One World Observatory

The 104 storey building stands on the World Trade Center site in Manhattan - giving amazing views of the city as well as interactive exhibitions on the building and the city. Groups will ascend to the 102nd observation floor in under 60 seconds in one of five sky pod elevators!

Broadway Shows

See a spectacular Broadway performance - entertainment at its greatest! Choose from shows such as Wicked, Chicago and The Lion King.

Landmark Cruise

Take in a spectacular view of Manhattan from the water, and pick out the many famous landmarks which dominate its skyline.

Empire State Building

Venture over a quarter of a mile skyward and observe as your group takes in the scale of the immense urban landscape which opens up before them. This is a great way for your students to gain artistic inspiration away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below. A particularly popular evening visit.

IMAX Cinema

Take some time out to watch a popular recent release or 3D film on one of several huge cinema screens.

Madison Square Garden All Access Tour

Get an insider’s look at the world’s most famous arena with the ‘All Access Tour!’ Explore exclusive VIP areas of the state-of-the-art arena and commemorate over 130 years of legendary Garden history. 

Exclusive, behind-the-scenes access: 

  • Visit the spectacular new Chase Bridges, suspended high above the arena floor 
  • Step inside the Knicks and Rangers locker rooms 
  • Relive historic moments with the new ‘Garden 366’ retrospective and ‘Defining Moments’ exhibit 
  • Get VIP treatment with access to luxury suites, including the Delta Sky360 Club 
  • Plus much more for THE ultimate insider’s look!

Manhattan Guided Walking Tour

Make sure you see all the sights by taking a 4-hour guided tour around the city. A popular and informative way to see all the best and key city sights of your choice. 

For English, drama and performing arts groups, why not opt for a literary themed tour?

The Beast! Speedboat

It’s a thrill-a-minute aboard New York’s fastest boat ride. Imagine flying across the waters of New York harbour at 45mph. An exhilarating alternative to our popular Circle Line Cruise, at no extra cost. Seasonal.

Top of the Rock™

Experience the best and most complete daytime view of New York City! Bring your sketchbook with you and you’ll be spoilt for choice over what to sketch. The unparalleled views of New York’s landmarks include Central Park, the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty – simply the most spectacular view in the city!

Walking Tour of Midtown Manhattan

Experienced in dealing with groups, our local guides will bring the history and culture of New York to life. Students will be amazed as they walk down world-famous streets such as Fifth Avenue, 42nd Street and Broadway and through Central Park and Times Square.

Walking Tour of Downtown Manhattan

Our expert guides can lead students through the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo and along Wall Street and Battery Park to give your group an insight into Manhattan life and the history of the city.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)

Located in the heart of New York City, The Museum of Modern Art is home to the world's greatest collection of modern and contemporary art. From the painting and sculpture of the 1880s to the film, design, and performance art of today, MoMA provides inspiration for visitors of all ages.

Summit OV

Explore three levels of mind-bending multi-sensory immersive experiences. With magnificent views over the Manhattan skyline, Summit takes the concept of an “observation deck” to entirely new heights.

The Edge

Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, a marvel of architecture, engineering, and technology with panoramic views of New York City. Edge combines the pulse-quickening excitement of leaning out over a 100-story outdoor balcony with the warm welcome of elevated food & beverage service in a unique social space.

There are free downloadable STEM resources to take students on a virtual adventure into NYC’s newest and most forward-thinking neighbourhood. Get students thinking like community builders and changemakers by harnessing the Design Engineering Process, a simple tool you can use to elevate Reach for the Sky resources and ground student explorations in project-based learning.


Evening activites

  • Top of the RockTM
  • Empire State Building
  • IMAX Cinema
  • Bowling
  • ...and much more!

Transport

We offer flights from a variety of departure airports and we’ll work with you to plan your route at the best value possible.

Flight


Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Your own dedicated NST contact
  • Bespoke tour itineraries
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
  • Curriculum linked visit programmes
  • Great value for money - no hidden costs
  • Free group leader inspection visits
  • Risk assessment guidance
  • Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

  • Free educational resources
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Exceptional standards of coaching
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists guides throughout your tour
  • 24/7 support just a call away
  • Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
  • You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
  • School travel company of choice since 1996