ABSTRACT
Young children respond distinctively and enthusiastically to art objects when given
appropriate opportunities. Whereas traditional museum visitors may observe, discuss, or
sketch alone or with friends, young children expand the repertoire of visitor behaviors to
include playing, singing, dancing, and acting. Because of their unusual responses to
works of art, young children’s visits to art museums have provoked interest among their
teachers, parents, museum staff, and the general visitor. As part of new policy and
funding initiatives focusing on audience development and lifelong learning, art museums
have enacted a number of innovative interactive exhibitions and programs to attract,
retain, and nurture young visitors. In Australia, and around the world, the visiting public
has responded very positively to interactive exhibitions and programs with high
attendance numbers and public acclaim. Both children and adults show deep engagement
in interactive innovations in art such as increased capacity to understand the nature of
human experience, an ability to adapt to others’ ways of thinking, the willingness to solve
problems, use of nonverbal communication, and the ability to communicate ideas and
feelings in a variety of modes (Australia Council for the Arts, 2000; Consortium of
National Arts Education Associations, 1994).
