This study was an exploration into how seniors who participate in art workshops at the senior center experienced and made sense
of their art museum visitations. In light of the rapidly increasing aging population in most countries around the world and the corollary
notion that their well-being would be a global benchmark for civilized living (Kinsella & Phillips, 2005), the arts and creativity
have been gaining momentum as a model for healthy and purposeful aging (Cohen, 2000, 2001; Hanna, 2013; Hanna & Perlstein, 2008).
Despite the efforts to make art museums accessible to senior citizens, little empirical evidence and literature can be found that address
the museum experiences of older adults, especially those who are considered to be receptive to visiting art museums, based on
characteristics of the art exhibition. This study fills that critical gap through the use of phenomenological research methods that
incorporate observations, in-depth interviews, a focus group, and document analysis techniques. The research site was selected by
conducting evaluations using Serrell's (2006) Framework for Assessing Excellence in Exhibitions from a Visitor-Centered Perspective to
identify characteristics of six art exhibitions. The exhibition chosen was rated excellent regarding its levels of achievement for all
criteria: comfortable, engaging, reinforcing, and meaningful. The museum fieldtrip was set up to take participants to see the selected art
exhibition. The fieldwork contributed a comprehensive perspective of not only experience but also motivation and reflection dimensions of
the museum visitation that seniors constructed through the dynamic interaction of personal, sociocultural, and physical contexts. The data
from the observation field notes, transcriptions of in-depth interviews and the focus group, and document review were analyzed by using
phenomenology data analysis methods and emerging themes were presented in the form of composite descriptions. The results of the data
analysis showed that participants were infused by a spirit of inquiry and had a need for being social. Older age-related needs and
life-learned wisdom played a key part in shaping seniors' museum experiences emotionally and intellectually. The essence and shared
meaning of this group of seniors' art museum visitation experiences culminated in seven key findings: seniors perceived themselves as
curiosity-driven museum visitors with older age-related needs and values; sociocultural circumstances played a key part in seniors' art
museum visit motivations; seniors constructed their museum experiences on their interests in art with a touch of life-learned wisdom; not
only physical but also communication and attitude accessibilities are crucial to older museum visitors; seniors preferred personal
interactions in order to maintain social connections; sociable experiences made seniors' meaningful museum experiences memorable; and the
art museum visitation cultivated seniors' senses of purpose in terms of staying creative. To make contributions to the current paradigm
for creative aging, the findings put forward knowledge that conveys practical ways for art museums and senior centers to work together on
making arts and creativity services. These services can dynamically play an important role in building an effective ecosystem of leisure
activities for promoting active lifestyles and social well-being among senior citizens. The findings of this study were used to develop
seven recommendations that revolve around how art museums and senior centers can foster older visitors' meaningful and memorable museum
experiences and collaborate on constructing and sustaining a full cycle of arts experiences and creativity engagement, from passive
observation to active participation, not only in but also across communities. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2015. / December 2, 2015. / art museum, arts participation, creative aging, exhibition evaluation, museum education, museum
experience / Includes bibliographical references. / Pat Villeneuve, Professor Directing Dissertation; Anne Barrett, University Representative; David
Gussak, Committee Member; Theresa Van Lith, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_360460 |
| Contributors | Thongnopnua, Sitthiporn (authoraut), Villeneuve, Pat (professor directing dissertation), Barrett, Anne E. (university representative), Gussak, David (committee member), Van Lith, Theresa (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Fine Arts (degree granting college), Department of Art Education (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (312 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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