Finally Today

How can museums today engage other audiences without presenting watered-down culture?

How can museums today engage an audience which is not just the traditional art audience but also the person who works in a factory, the person who's a secretary--all the tremendously different types that make up society?

Public Comments

1. Museums are constantly working to attract diverse audiences and have been for many years. At the museums with which I've been involved, there are usually several exhibitions running at once, and they are targeted towards different types of potential visitors. There are large exhibitions of major artists whom everyone has heard of, including people who don't normally pay a lot of attention to art, and smaller, focused, more scholarly exhibitions directed to people with special interests. There are also exhibitions mounted with children and parents in mind -- sometimes original art made for children's books -- and lectures, gallery talks, concerts and special events just for fun. At my local art museum, for example, visitors can see soon an exhibition on Matisse, one on illustrations from children's picture books, two on major figures in photography, and one on a major American architectural firm, plus an exhibit of art from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards and another on works on paper by American artists. The local symphony orchestra is performing in the galleries, as is a dance troupe, and there are special art-making sessions and dance performances for children. Members are being invited to join a sketch class or attend basic lectures on Impressionism (always a big draw), and to a talk on Egyptian Hieroglphs -- another rather popular subject. On Thursdays and Fridays, there is a Happy Hour in the Members' Lounge, or you can attend the "Martini Monday" luncheons -- mai tais are being served a week from tomorrow. And my museum isn't alone in marketing to anyone and everyone who might have an interest and in offering events that don't require educated, specialist knowledge. Museums have known for over 30 years that they need to broaden their visitor base, and they've been working hard to do it. From what I can see -- and I'm an art professional -- they've been doing very well. The galleries I frequent are filled with non-professionals who simply enjoy the art and who are being offered activities from which they can learn but that don't make them feel "inferior" in terms of prior knowledge and understanding. And we're delighted.
2. In my town we also have a community art based gallery. We have works from all walks of life. Check out the smaller less important galleries.