Are Elite Art Museums Robbing Us Of Passion (And Is There A Better Way)?

No one can deny that art museums have played a major role in making iconic artworks more accessible for everyone. High-traffic art institutes like the Smithsonian have quite literally taken art out of the hands of collectors, and given us all a first-hand look at pieces from iconic artists like Bellinni.

But, with art museum visitor numbers very much floundering, and with finances plummeting as a result, it seems that we still have a few issues to overcome. Amongst young people, in particular, fears surrounding the elite, stuffy rooms in art museums are currently driving interest into a ditch. After all, art museums might be accessible, but are they still broadly appealing?

Perhaps not. Extreme security measures, the need for total silence, and the constant feeling of missing the magic aren’t exactly in keeping with the true nature of creativity. And, many experts believe that we need to adjust in order to keep our much-loved institutes.

In this article, we’ll consider why imagined elitism is a problem in art museums across America right now, and how we can begin taking steps to rebuild the reputational damage and lack of interest that impression has caused.

Art and Elitism: How Our Best Museums Have Fallen Behind the Times

While it’s naive to claim that elitism has single-handedly destroyed modern art museum attendance, it would be equally naive to assume that this issue hasn’t featured in this drop off at  all. After all, the vast majority of art galleries don’t exactly give off welcoming vibes. And that’s not the only elite leaning that’s keeping young people away right now.

For socially aware young audiences, cultural gatekeeping in the art world is a particular problem.  Many collections on display across our art museums still to this day also feature pieces with ethically questionable origins, such as colonialism and widespread racism. This latter point is especially problematic considering that enslaved figures and racist caricatures have quite literally been painted over in some instances.

Art museums also continue to broadly lack representation for working-class or culturally diverse artists, meaning that they largely appeal to the privileged classes, and those able to take creative subjects at school. But with the number of students this applies to currently dropping at almost as fast a rate as art museum attendance, it’s hard to see the benefit of this limited appeal.

Art Museum Attendance: The Numbers

Earlier this year, a national survey by the American Alliance of Museums revealed that attendance across all museums has still not climbed back to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, 55% of museums are currently in a quagmire of poor attendance that doesn’t even come close to levels in 2019. Amidst this decreasing interest, one-third of museums have also experienced cancellations in the government funding and grants that allowed them to remain open and free to the public.

To further look at the realities of those figures, it’s worth returning to young people, 30-40% of whom don’t attend museums at all due to socioeconomic issues and a general lack of interest about what’s on offer. When you combine these two issues, it’s plain to see that art museums are in dire need of rescuing, and reassessing museum culture is set to play a key role in that.

Art Museums That are Still Making a Difference

Of course, so far we’ve spoken about museum attendance and culture generally, but it’s worth noting that some US art museums are breaking this mold, and they’re a good example of how we can create art institutes that do have the potential to survive through the next generation  and beyond.

Perhaps the best example of this here in America is Baltimore’s American Visionary Museum. This iconic location has been breaking elitist molds since 1994, when its founder, Rebecca Hoffberger, stated her intention to showcase self-taught art that rejected the narrow labels that  existed in the art world even then. Now, accessible, relatable exhibits like the anniversary ‘Fantastic Realities’ exhibition continue to hold widespread creative appeal, and have led countless young visitors to seek apartment-style stays close to the American Visionary Art Museum where they can gain easy access to everything on offer.

Other art museums currently breaking the elitist mold in favor of a generally more fun and appealing art approach include –

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): MoMA in New York has always been well-loved for its focus on contemporary modern art, with recent impressive exhibits including ‘The Stars we Cannot See’, which showcased pieces from indigenous Australian artists.
• The Mint Museum: North Carolina’s first art museum, The Mint Museum, has the tagline ‘Art for everyone’, and it’s a sentiment that’s reflected in exhibits like the upcoming ‘Interventions: Weaving Joy, Woven Resistance’, which explores bicultural identity through varying textiles.

Key Steps for Replacing Passion and Accessibility in the Art World

The good news is that art museums are holding on, and they’ll thrive again if they reject elitism for a more inclusive, enjoyable approach to art displays. As we can see from iconic museums which are still thriving, like those mentioned above, ongoing interest and excitement across the art museum world simply requires –

• Modern representation:  While art history undeniably still has its place, young audiences are sure to feel more comfortable in art institutes that replace problematic, historic art pieces with more contemporary, relevant artworks.
• Interactivity as standard: Gone are the days when audiences are happy to simply stand and stare at artworks behind glass. Nowadays, most people prefer a far more interactive approach to getting back in touch with the fun of the art world, including digital content, shareable displays, and even ‘create your own art’ additions.
• Diverse representation: Audiences are no longer willing to stay stuck in the lane of successful white male artists. Now, really engaging viewers means exhibiting art that represents diverse cultures and artists, especially across indigenous, black, and female populations.

Art museums might be in trouble, but they’re not dead yet. Scrapping bland elitism and instead leaning back into artistic passion using tips like these could well put the beating heart back into the world of art on display!