Art is still often seen as an elitist form of entertainment. Statistics prove that access to art remains uneven, and while the deprivation gap widens, museums and cultural institutions are not doing enough to make art accessible to everyone.
Why has it become common to play classical music for babies still in the womb? Why has art therapy gained so much popularity in recent years? And who first introduced theatre programmes for incarcerated individuals?
Art, in its many forms – from a simple painting class to poetry writing – has long been a powerful tool used to process and transform emotions. Emotional response is what makes art unique and authentic. Take, for example, Marina Abramović, an artist well-known for pushing physical and mental boundaries with her provocative performances, like placing a charged pistol for the audience to interact with. Or Edvard Munch, who poured his personal experience and true-to-life feelings into the world-famous painting ‘The Scream’, channelling anxiety and despair onto the canvas. Likewise, Claude Monet captured fleeting moments and emotions through his serene, impressionistic dusk landscapes.
However, despite smartphones and the internet bringing art to a more extended audience, it still remains an uncommon way to spend time. The most recent survey from 2020 revealed that 59% of those living in the most deprived areas engaged with art once in the past 12 months, while 24% didn’t engage with art in any form. This means that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of people living in marginalised communities only engaged with art once a year while every fourth person didn’t interact with art at all. The gap has continued to widen since. Brene Brown has said that unused creativity does not just disappear but sits there until it accumulates, leading to emotional suffocation from unexpressed feelings like fear, rage, and grief which then can reflect on mental health, work productivity and decreased life quality.
Studies have shown that arts programmes, like drama, help reduce bullying in schools, while expressive writing lowers aggressive behaviour which brings down the crime level among young people. However, while the health benefits of sport are widely recognised, and attract more investment, the positive effect art has on welfare is not as straightforwardly evident.
The main reason people don’t visit galleries is because the cost of a day out in cultural centres often exceeds entry fees, and includes travel costs and finding the time to go. People do not go to art galleries or exhibitions for the sake of it. The purpose of art lies deeper than simple admiration. It is essential for one’s well-being and reliving certain emotions and experiences. Accessing art should be open and straightforward. A part of the solution to ensure that art is available to everyone is to break the stigma that assumes it is reserved for an elite few.
Exhibition developers and cultural institutions still do not consider accessibility as their main priority when designing art spaces and exhibitions. Many of them keep their focus on catering to a traditionally elitist audience, keeping formal dress codes and closed-door sessions which only foster a sense of distance, putting a red-coloured exclusivity label on the front door, leaving broader segments of the population observing from afar.
While accommodating the venues for the impaired is crucial, it is only a starting point. Instead of focusing solely on flashy campaigns, hiring individuals with a background in arts and communication skills can bring a personal touch to venues. To truly engage with art, people have to be aware and mindful of its significance. Rather than simply offering Wikipedia-style facts, these professionals help visitors find the true meaning behind the artwork, seeing the human aspects of both the piece and the artist.
Most galleries and museums in Scotland offer free entry, with only a request for voluntary donations. However, many people remain unaware of this accessibility feature, particularly those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. This is an evident opportunity people miss out on and can make art more inclusive and approachable for everyone. By inspiring the passion for art during early years or including it as a part of school programmes, or making it available in public spaces like libraries, institutions such as universities and community centres can work alongside government initiatives to bridge this art consumption gap and cultivate an environment where art becomes a central and accessible part of everyday life.
