Why Attendance at Art Museums is Declining
In 2022, according to “The Art Newspaper,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had 1.7 million fewer visitors than before the pandemic. This is a nearly 34% drop in attendance, and this decline should not be overlooked.
Art has existed as a crucial component of society and global culture. As early as ancient times, art forms such as sculpting, painting, drawing, and etching have per- sisted and evolved into a myriad of unique styles. Among other creative outlets, visual art connects and helps people to better understand the world they live in and the generations that came before them. Although the act of attending an art museum is not the only way to experience art, physically immersing yourself in an exhibition or gallery is a wonderful way to preserve the significance of art in modern society, and ensure it lives on.
Discussing what prompts her to visit art museums, Ms. Asya Reznikov, an Upper School art teacher, explained that she finds it to be “a very meditative experience” and not only “[feels] very inspired for [her] own work,” but also feels motivated to deepen her “under- standing [of] civilization and people in history through the lens of art.”
According to fellow art teacher Mr. Nicky Enright, “There’s never been any [civilization] that we know of that has lived without art,” speaking to how crucial art is for a society to function.
So why has there been a sudden decrease in museum attendance? And what can Riverdale students do to rekindle the human connection between art and our lives?
Despite Ms. Reznikov’s strong belief in taking “students to see the ‘real thing,” she and Mr. Enright both recognize the high expense of art museums, especially in New York City. “I think the cost [to visit a museum] is prohibitive for a lot of people and that makes it ...[inequitable], which I find horrible,” Ms. Reznikov said. Mr. En- right shared a similar view on the subject. During his time at Docu- menta, a contemporary art show in Germany that is hosted every five years, he remembers asking some locals living in Kassel what they had thought about the show: “They said that they hadn’t checked it out because it was too expensive.” He exclaimed: “‘That’s ridiculous!’ I was pissed off [and]...mad on their behalf.” Mr. Enright elaborated, “If we don’t want a society where culture is considered this exclusive thing for rich people, then we need to make art accessible to everyone.”
However, expenses aren’t the only reason for the dramatic decline. The Covid-19 pandemic is also too big of an issue to be ignored. When asked about the decrease in art museum attendance, ninth-grader Alice Goldberg expressed that since the start of the pandemic “people [have made less of an effort to] go and see cultural places.” Whether this is because of the residual fear of the coronavirus or a general shift in priority since the pandemic, it is evident to interviewees that Covid-19 is a primary factor in the falloff in attendance. Mr. Enright added that “coupled with other things in life right now,. people are feeling more tired, more stressed, and [more] strained.”
Despite these prohibitive issues, members of the art department are encouraging students’ continued exploration of art. One way is by planning more trips to museums, galleries, and exhibitions. Ms. Reznikov echoed this idea by stressing, “It’s really vital that we infuse education systems [with an experiential art education, as it is] critical to preserving, understanding, valuing, and continuing arts.” Additionally, Mr. Enright recognized that “this is probably the most over-scheduled generation that’s ever lived” due to “academic stress and homework” and questioned the feasibility of “how the kids [are] supposed to take advantage of these great museums and opportunities” if they don’t have the time. Mr. Enright emphasized that by “[lightening] the student load,” Riverdale could help students actualize the importance of art outside of a school context.
To sum up, art is vital for humanity to flourish, and it is our job as members of society to preserve it. As Mr. Enright aptly put it, “if people were involved in exploring their own creativity, the world would be a much better place.”
