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Participatory Activities and the Art Museum: A Case Study of the Columbus Museum of Art

Conway, Chelsea
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493982670620671

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Arts Policy and Administration.
This research study attempts to explore the interactions that occur between participatory activities and art museum galleries. Literature suggests that museum’s use participatory activities as interpretive strategies to engage visitors and promote learning in galleries. The inclusion of participatory activities is representative of a museums interest in cultivating visitor-centered experiences for audiences. This study seeks to investigate what if any impacts participatory activities have on the experiences of visitors to art museums. This research is a qualitative case study of participatory activities at the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA). The CMA uses a series of installations called “connectors” to engage visitors in their galleries. Connectors are defined as anything placed in the gallery space other than art, including labels, wall text and seating. However, connectors also take the form of participatory activities, such as puzzles, games, or conversation boards. This study specifically examined participatory activities that allowed for tactile, hands-on interaction with visitors. Data was collected through an interview, observations of participants, and a survey of museum visitors. The collected data was then organized by themes and patterns. Analysis of the collected data suggests that the majority of museum visitors chose to engage with participatory activities and that the activities have a positive impact on visitor experience. Visitors who engaged with the activities reported increased appreciation for the museum’s artwork, and a more engaging museum visit. Interactions between museum visitors and participatory activities most often occur with social groups. These interactions are strongly influenced by the dynamics of the social group. Time spent in the galleries and with the participatory activities is most often less than five minutes. Participatory activities are an opportunity for museums to enhance the experiences of their audience. Despite limitations in sampling and design, this study suggests that visitors respond positively to participatory activities and desire engaging and interactive experiences from their visits. Future research should delve further into visitor responses to the presence and use of participatory activities.
Joni Acuff (Advisor)
Deborah Smith-Shank (Committee Member)
128 p.
Arts Management; Museum Studies
art museums; participation; activities; interaction; Columbus Museum of Art

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Conway, C. (2017). Participatory Activities and the Art Museum: A Case Study of the Columbus Museum of Art [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493982670620671

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Conway, Chelsea. Participatory Activities and the Art Museum: A Case Study of the Columbus Museum of Art. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493982670620671.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Conway, Chelsea. "Participatory Activities and the Art Museum: A Case Study of the Columbus Museum of Art." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493982670620671

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1493982670620671
4,299
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.