Impact of a Game Booklet on Family Visit to an Art Exhibition

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of a game booklet on children's behavior during a visit to a temporary exhibition with their family. The children were divided into two groups. The first group received a game booklet prepared by the educational service of the museum. The second visited the exhibition without the help of the booklet. Several aspects of the children's visit were observed: duration of the visit, stops in front of masterpieces, itinerary, use of the booklet, and interactions with family members. At the end of the visit, the children were asked questions about the definition of Impressionism, the differences noted between the various paintings in the exhibition, and their knowledge of the names of the painters in the show. This was followed by a recognition task. It was found that the booklet induced a “booklet itinerary,” but it did not help memorization of the exhibit content nor did its use alter sociability within the family. These results appear linked to the specific population of the families studied, namely, those familiar with museums and Impressionist painting.