This report is part of a study that produces up-to-date and reliable information on audiences for DGPC museums, including social profiles and cultural practices, the relationship with museums, expectations, evaluations and suggestions arising from the visit. It aims to promote knowledge and the search for new responses to the challenges that audiences are posing to many museum institutions as a result of the strong impact of tourism. This is a pioneering study in Portugal from several points of view: the number of participating museums, the comparative perspective adopted and the duration of the observation (12 months).
The report focuses on the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (MNAA) in Portugal, examining the effects of tourism and economic challenges on museums. Data collection methods involved distributing multilingual brochures to selected visitors for surveys, revealing a mix of regular Portuguese visitors and more first-time foreign visitors at MNAA. Visitors expressed a desire for enhanced art appreciation experiences, suggesting improvements such as providing more contextual information through brochures, maps, or guides. Feedback highlighted the need for better historical context, engaging explanations, and detailed descriptions of artworks to stimulate curiosity and further exploration.
The study’s analysis, following a structured approach proposed by Leavy, emphasised the importance of thorough data organisation, immersion, coding, categorization, and interpretation. The use of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) facilitated the processing of 528 valid responses, with a majority from foreign participants. Overall, the study underscores the significance of visitor feedback in shaping museum experiences and the importance of continuous improvement in providing informative and engaging exhibitions at MNAA.
