Art trip to New York: 6 days, 4 nights

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated 30 feet above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. The High Line was transformed from a derelict structure to one of New York’s most beloved public spaces. High Line Art presents a wide array of artwork including site-specific commissions, exhibitions, performances, video programs, and a series of billboard interventions. High Line Art invites artists to come up with creative ways to engage with the uniqueness of the architecture, design, and history of the High Line.
Select says: The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. River and city views provide a different vantage point from which to discuss the surrounding architecture.

Subject range: Art, History

What you’ll experience: It’s hard to think of the city without picturing this iconic building of the New York skyline. The views from the observation decks are stunning and particularly beautiful at sunset. The visit also includes the newly restored lobby with its beautiful art deco ceiling murals, the historical Dare To Dream Exhibit, the new Sustainability Exhibit, and an interactive audio device. Find out more here.
Select says: The view of the building is also amazing. The Empire State Building’s tower lights have maintained a tradition of changing colour to recognize various occasions throughout the year. In 2012, a new computer driven LED light system was installed capable of displaying 16 million colours.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: Choose from one of these dynamic areas of Lower Manhattan and take time out to shop whilst viewing the sights and architecture of the neighbourhood.
Select says: Greenwich Village has been known as an artists’ haven, and the Bohemian capital. Washington Square Park, located at the foot of Fifth Avenue, is a recommended choice for a visit with two prominent features being Washington’s Arch and a large fountain.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: This is an opportunity to visit your choice of sights within Lower Manhattan. Possibilities include the 911 Memorial, Wall Street, Battery Park, Winter Garden, St Paul’s Chapel and Trinity Church.
Select says: Battery Park has several pieces of public art, for example ‘Dance Chimes’ which is a set of pentatonic metal tiles designed by Alfons van Leggelo where you can hop on the squares to create your own original song. Learn more here.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: An opportunity to take a trip to the cosmopolitan neighbourhoods of Lower Manhattan and visit a specific SoHo or Chelsea gallery – please discuss your needs upon booking with your travel advisor.
Select says: Some possibilities can be viewed here.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The Whitney is an art museum with a focus on 20th and 21st century American art. Through the careful examination of artists’ ideas, materials, and processes, students consider the multi-faceted role that artists play in American culture and society. School Programs use a thematic-based approach to teaching in the galleries – possible themes include: Artist as Observer, Artist as Storyteller, Artist as Experimenter, and Artist as Critic.
Select says: In addition to its traditional collection, the Whitney has a website, called Artport, featuring ‘Net Art’ that changes monthly.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The Lincoln Center was built as part of Lincoln Square Renewal Project during Robert Moses’s program of urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s. Respected architects were contracted to design the major buildings on the site, and over the next thirty years the previously blighted area became a new cultural focal point for the performing arts.
Select says: It may also be possible to book a performance during your tour, depending on the schedule. See the Lincoln Center website for performance information.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: A coach tour around the sights of Brooklyn is a great way to spend an evening, giving your students the opportunity to see a wide variety of the architecture that the city offers, a highlight being the Brooklyn Bridge.
Select says: Linking the borough of Brooklyn with Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge stands as a marvel of engineering. Learn more here.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: Walking into the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine feels like stepping into the Middle Ages. Students will experience the beautiful Gothic and Romanesque architecture of the church and guided tours and arts workshops are also possible. During an architecture tour students will see first-hand what goes into building a cathedral and the Gothic and Romanesque architecture of St. John the Divine. Pre and post-visit activities allow for deeper exploration of the Cathedral and their website has some useful associated thematic activities.
Select says: Other possibilities that link to your particular requirements are possible, for example Harlem African Market or the Riverside Church.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as ‘The Guggenheim’, is an art museum and permanent home of a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. A guided tour is recommended.
Select says: It is possible to browse and view the collection online for use pre-tour and post-tour on the Guggenheim website.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the United States and one of the ten largest in the world. There is an incredible variety to see here including American modern art, Byzantine, paintings and sculptures from European masters, works from ancient Egypt and much more. Specific guided tours are possible
Select says: The museum has an excellent website to visit pre tour and for post tour follow up, including a teen section with a teen blog. The museum also has a downloadable app including recommendations of what to see.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: MAD offers a 90-minute programme for students, including a museum tour and hands-on workshop designed to engage students through direct observation, participation, and exploration through 3D art-making. A visit in the Artist Studios enables students a chance to talk with artists about their processes, materials and concepts. Visits to MAD’s galleries to tour and discuss the current exhibitions help students strengthen their ability to reflect on their studio experience, gain practical insights into specific artworks, and learn to make critical evaluations.
Select says: Different workshop options are available for groups and there are great pre-tour and post-tour resources with MAD’s permanent collection accessible online, along with an archive of videos showing artists at work in their studios.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: The ICP photography collection contains more than 135,000 prints and related materials that range from the earliest forms of photography to contemporary work. Guided programmes are possible.
Select says: Samples of collections for pre-tour post-tour available via the ICP website.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: Located in Midtown Manhattan on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, this museum houses an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art including painting, drawing, photography, film, architecture, design works and much more. Some of the artists featured are Van Gough, Picasso, Matisse and Warhol. It is possible for students to take part in a one part programme at the education and research centre with some additional free time at the museum.
Select says: Some collection highlights to look out for include: Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night, Henri Rousseau – The Dream, and Henri Matisse – The Dance.

Subject range: Art

What you’ll experience: A 42nd street walk is an opportunity to view some of the iconic sights and architecture of New York, from the wonderful Beaux-Arts architecture of the Grand Central Terminal to the superb Art Deco Chrysler building. Other sights include Chanin building, McGraw Hill, Ford Foundation, New York Public Library, and Post Modern 42d Street.
Select says: Please note that flight times often dictate the possibilities. It may be an option to feature some of these visits on your departure day as well as, or instead of, your arrival day.