It is incumbent on museums and art galleries to present the value of art and enlightenment to audiences, yet some domestic art galleries still have a long way to go to fulfill the function of educating the public. For many parents, the lack of high-quality exhibitions and professional guides at museums has made visits with children feel superficial.

Chinese parents have begun to pay more attention to fostering their children’s appreciation for art. However, the ability of domestic art galleries to educate the public remains lacking. Many galleries either have too few guides or those they do have need to be improved.

Guidance can bridge the gap in understanding between the public and art exhibitions by teaching visitors about artworks and educating them through professional instruction. Although some domestic art galleries have begun to focus on guidance and instruction, most are yet to fully engage visitors and truly consider their experience, some focus only on displaying the pieces themselves, providing monotonous information which is unable to attract or educate younger audiences.

To make art museums more accessible to the public, the relevant sectors should focus on audience experiences and what visitors can gain from exhibitions rather than only the articles themselves.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Guangming Daily on July 12)