Slow Art Day is an all-volunteer, self-organized annual global event that celebrates the art of looking at art slowly.
How Does It work?
One day each year – April 28 in 2012 – people all over the world visit local museums and galleries to look at a small number of pre-selected works for 5 to 10 minutes each. After their individual viewing, participants meet together over lunch to talk about their experience. That’s it. Simple by design, the goal is to focus as much attention as possible on viewing art slowly.
This 2010 ARTNews full-page feature article, Slow Down You Look Too Fast, provides an excellent overview of Slow Art Day.
How Does an Art Institution Get Involved?
Volunteers, as individuals or as museum staff, raise their hands (and register on this site) to host a group at a local museum or gallery. The host selects both the location and the art to view. The global Slow Art Day team (also made up of volunteers) provides the tools and support for hosts to run their own events.
Growing Fast
Slow Art Day is growing rapidly from it’s alpha and beta tests in 2009:
- August 2009: alpha test with four participants at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
- October 2009: beta test with 16 sites in North America and Europe
- April 2010: official launch with 55 sites around the world
- April 2011: 90 sites on every continent (including Antarctica!)
- April 2012: TBD
Learn more about how Slow Art Day got its start here.
Why Participants Love Slow Art Day
Feedback on this simple event has been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s a sample:
“It was nice that all we had to do was to take our time looking at art. What a great way to spend a few hours. Then, to make it even better, we had the opportunity to discuss what we saw and think about it together with some thoughtful people over a meal. What is there not to like about that?”
“I loved taking the time to just “be” with the work, particularly pieces I might otherwise walk by.”
“A much better way of doing the art museum than the usual idle ramble. Discussion afterwards was fun, interesting, informative, eye-opening. Look forward to doing it again soon.”
“The experience exceeded every expectation.”
“It gave me a new framework for looking at art on my own. But then it also provided the opportunity to discuss my perceptions with others who had done the same thing. Brilliant!”
“It was a new and valuable way to SEE the art.”
“It was exciting to be engaged in conversations about art! Met some lovely people who share a common passion. Very pleasant and eye opening experience.”
Slow Art Day 2012 is Saturday, April 28, in museums and galleries on every continent. Join us and experience art differently.
I Want to Help!
Volunteers serving as hosts and global organizers power Slow Art Day. There is no formal funding or budget. The one thing all our volunteers have in common? An appreciation for the power of art and a desire to have as many people experience it as possible.
Learn more about how you can get involved.
Special Thanks
We extend a special thank you to our volunteer hosts on every continent, without them, Slow Art Day would not be possible.
We’d also like to thank our global team for volunteering their time and their talents and our sponsors for their support.