Never Too Old to Learn – Lifelong Learning Strategies for Volunteers of Digital Art Exhibition

Cheng, Yu-Chuan; Hsu, Chih Yi; Chuang, Yuan Hsun

Never Too Old to Learn – Lifelong Learning Strategies for Volunteers of Digital Art Exhibition

James Alexander Gordon on 11th October 2023

Author Information

Yu-Chuan Cheng, China University of Technology, Taiwan
Chih Yi Hsu, China University of Technology, Taiwan
Yuan Hsun Chuang, China University of Technology, Taiwan

Abstract

In 1972, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization proposed《Faure Report-Learning to Be》and promoted lifelong education as the highest guiding principle of education. Lifelong learning strategies become an important idea that tackles the challenges, impacts and changes facing the emerging information society. In Taiwan, volunteer group is one form that provides adults lifelong learning recurrently. In this paper, learning strategies for volunteers of digital art exhibition is concerned. As digital art has gained popularity among audiences, various types of art exhibitions feature this kind of works nowadays. However, the volunteers working at such digital art exhibitions are often amateurs or retirees in reality. They are usually unfamiliar with operations of digital devices, the essence of modern art, and the ways to appreciate digital artworks. All these difficulties make it more challenging for them to provide visitors with proper guidance and services. This study explored volunteers' willingness to participate, current involvement, and challenges encountered in digital art exhibitions. Six interviews were conducted with artist, curator, exhibition staffs, and volunteers from the Hsinchu 241 Art Space in Taiwan. According to the interviews, it suggested collaborative learning as a strategy for integrating lifelong learning through multidimensional discussions, which aims to encourage volunteers to learn together, engage emotionally, and better understand digital art. The collaborative learning makes it easier to turn artistic ideas into tangible content and boost volunteers' confidence. The conclusion drawn from this study can be provided to exhibition organizers, curatorial teams, and volunteer groups for lifelong learning.