Conceptualising Art Exhibitions as Special Events

ABSTRACT

Art galleries are increasingly staging special events as part of their programs and visitor research has shown that a result of this trend is a change in the demographics of the people who visit galleries. Audiences have become more mainstream and consequently galleries have begun to conceptualise their visitors as tourists who have specific needs and motivations.

This paper explores the literature that frames, and is thus relevant to research about short-term art exhibitions. It provides an analysis of the current literature, with a particular focus on the motivations of visitors attending short-term art exhibitions. The literature supports the argument that short-term visual art exhibitions should be recognised within the scope of special cultural events.

Key Words:

• Short-term visual art exhibitions
• special events
• cultural events
• motivation