Explore the Gallery and discover the stories of significant Australians through a range of onsite education programs connected to the Australian Curriculum. From facilitated programs to digital app experiences and self-guided visits, there is an exciting educational opportunity for any group.
Bookings can be made through the Book Canberra Excursions portal. To help you prepare for your trip to the Gallery, see our School Visit Information.
Mission to Mars
$10 per student, 30 minutes, Years 6 - 12
Looking for a fun and energising activity to begin or end your day in Canberra? Blast off with Mission to Mars, our innovative digital app that brings together art, adventure and exploration. Students will need to work together to select a crew to launch into life on Mars. They will explore the Gallery, looking at portraits on display and deciding who should join the crew. Discussion, consideration and collaboration is essential. Who would make the best engineer? Do we need an influencer on board or is a scientist more important? Decisions need to be made quickly while navigating challenges and surprises along the way to lift off.
Headhunt!
$3 per student, 60 minutes, Years 5 - 9
Headhunt! is an innovative digital app that invites students on an expedition of curiosity, creativity and collaboration. Exciting and playful, the app appeals to all types of learners, providing students with a sense of autonomy and agency as they work in small teams to scavenge the collection to explore Australian people through the art of portraiture. Using one of the Gallery’s devices, students will be directed to different locations in the Gallery where they will choose artworks and capture their insights by completing a series of interactive activities. Students will be prompted to engage deeply with artworks that pique their interests, finding meaning through observation and conversations with their peers. But it’s not just the students who get to have all the fun! Teachers have their very own version of Headhunt! where they can track their student’s’ progress, send messages and read everyone’s thoughtful responses.
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
$7 per student, 60 minutes, Years 10 – 12
Designed for Year 10 – 12 students, this program invites learners to engage with the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 and the Gallery’s broader photographic collection. Through discussion and visual analysis, students will develop critical and creative thinking skills as they interpret photographic portraits and explore how photography can express identity, culture, and storytelling. Learning areas: The Arts – Visual Arts. General capabilities: Creative and Critical Thinking. Cross-curriculum priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
Self-guide: National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
Free, 60 minutes, Pre-school, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary
Schools and tertiary groups are invited to independently explore the exhibition, with an introductory orientation and support from our Visitor Experience team. This flexible format allows educators to customise the visit to suit their students’ interests and curriculum goals. 2B pencils and paper/activity sheets are welcome.
