Virtual Art Visits: Examining the Effects of Slow Looking on Well-Being in an Online Environment

Throughout history, visual art has helped people feel connected to each other, experience a deep sense of belonging to their communities, and enhance their own well-being. In recent years, many museums have increased their digital presence to engage with the public in new ways, including curating unique virtual experiences. The present research examines the well-being effects of a virtual art gallery visit and the role of immersion in facilitating these well-being effects. Participants were 155 adults from the United States recruited via Prolific. Participants completed a 15-min virtual gallery experience and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) To spend 5 min selecting one work and then spend 10 min engaging in mindful looking; (b) To spend 5 min selecting one work and then spend 10 min engaging in curious looking; or (c) To spend 15 min viewing the art however they wished. Participants completed measures of well-being and emotional state before and after their gallery experience. Although the three conditions did not differ in their levels of immersion or in their well-being and emotional experiences, participants did experience a range of well-being increases following their virtual art experience. Further, the level of immersion participants reported during the visit, regardless of condition, predicted postvisit well-being and emotional state. This suggests that virtual art engagement, like in-person art engagement, may hold well-being benefits for those who engage in these experiences.