The Effects of Security Guards and Gallery Guides on Visitor Experience at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Open Access
Author:
Krantz, Amanda
Graduate Program:
Art Education
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
April 10, 2009
Committee Members:
Dr David Ebitz, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor David Ebitz, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
visitor security art museum
Abstract:
A visitor will never be in an art museum without security personnel present. Yet, despite visitors’ constant exposure to security personnel, we know little about the effects of security personnel on visitor experience in art museums. The following research addresses this topic, looking to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, which employs two types of security personnel: Security Guards—traditional security personnel—and Gallery Guides—hybrid security personnel and educators. Using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, I compared the effects Security Guards and Gallery Guides have on visitor experience to understand the impact of security personnel on visitor experience in art museums.
