Responses of Young Children to Contemporary Art Exhibits: The Role of Artistic Experiences

Abstract

This study explores pre-primary children's responses to contemporary art exhibits in a museum setting, the role of previous artistic experiences, and the impact of the art museum visit on children's responses to artworks and making art during classroom practice. The sample included 32 children (16 boys and 16 girls) randomly selected from two classrooms in two nursery public schools in Nicosia, Cyprus. In addition to open-ended interviews, classroom observation notes, and videotape analysis procedures, the artworks of children were used to find out the influences of the visit to the art museum. The findings suggest that children's contact with a range of art forms including contemporary art exhibits in a museum setting is an important part of their educational experiences if appropriate approaches and methods are used. (Contains 4 tables and 4 footnotes.)