Why Visitors Visit

Welcome to “Why Visitors Visit” Week, Part 1.

We’re all involved in exhibitions all the time. But sometimes we’re so focused, we don’t always think about why all our visitors really visit. Imagine how better informed our work would be — if we did.

Let’s dig into it. For Part 1, let’s get all the reasons out there:

1. Learning and Curiosity
Visitors who want to learn something.

2. Family and Social Experience
Visitors who want to spend time with family or friends.

3. Aesthetics and Beauty
Visitors who want to experience beautiful or inspiring things.

4. Personal Identity and Heritage
Visitors who want to connect with their personal culture or ancestry.

5. Social Interaction and Belonging
Visitors who want to socialize in general, outside home and work.

6. Reflection and Inspiration
Visitors who want a quiet, contemplative place to go.

7. Entertainment and Escape
Visitors who want a fun day out, a break from the usual.

8. Tourism and Travel
Visitors in a new place, seeing what it has to offer.

Here’s the thing:
Well, there are a lot of reasons. And most visitors are motivated by more than one. (Maybe even all of them at once, in situations you can imagine if you try.)

Next, in Part 2 of W.V.V.W., we’ll look at visitors a different way, using John Falk’s Five Visitor Identity Types.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S. Can you think of a key reason for visiting that’s not included here? Hit REPLY and LMK! (And yes, I’m deliberately not including “because I work on exhibitions.”)

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MtM Word of the Day:
Word count. The total number of words in a text panel, caption, or title wall. Teams can design using placeholder text, then give writers a word count to write to. This keeps the project moving, and balances reading with other experiences.