Live and digital engagement with the visual arts.

Area of Science:

• Arts and Humanities
• Sociology
• Digital Media Studies

Background:

• Information and communication technology (ICT) innovations are reshaping visual arts production and consumption.
• Understanding how consumers engage with visual arts through both physical and digital channels is crucial in the modern era.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze visual arts consumption patterns using both onsite museum attendance and digital media engagement.
• To investigate the direct and indirect effects of various participation forms on visual arts consumption.
• To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing visual arts consumption behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the USA 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts dataset.
• Employed multinomial logit and recursive bivariate probit models to analyze participation data.
• Examined relationships between onsite museum visits and digital access to visual arts.

Main Results:

• No significant age-related differences were found in visual arts consumption methods.
• Race, gender, families with children in arts schools, and occupation type showed notable differences in consumption patterns.
• A trade-off exists between online and onsite museum visits, with digital access positively correlating with museum/gallery attendance.

Conclusions:

• Online engagement with visual arts serves as a vital alternative for consumers facing time and cost barriers to onsite visits.
• Digital access complements, rather than replaces, traditional forms of art consumption for many.
• Socio-demographic factors play a significant role in shaping diverse visual arts consumption behaviors.