West Bund Art Museum Shanghai, China: A Multi-Interactive Educational Space in the Context of Globalization

Abstract

In the context of globalization, the design of educational spaces necessitates not only a consideration of local cultures but also the capacity for cross-cultural communication. Deeply ingrained in educational space design, cultural sensitivity and a global perspective are instrumental in cultivating learners' international outlooks, global cultural dissemination, and most crucially, their literacy. Here, literacy encompasses the proficiency to understand and communicate across diverse cultural and disciplinary contexts, a competence of paramount significance within the global educational framework. Educational space design, a comprehensive interdisciplinary research domain, seamlessly integrates educational theory, psychology, anthropology, and sociocultural research. Through the meticulous planning and design of physical spaces, it generates interdisciplinary learning experiences, which facilitate the stimulation of technological innovation. These experiences not only enable learners to acquire knowledge but also enhance their capabilities to read, write, and interpret information presented in diverse cultural and disciplinary forms, thereby achieving all-inclusive education. In response to the evolving trends in education, the design of educational spaces has increasingly emphasized interactivity and experientiality. The multi-interactive spaces within contemporary art museums are capable of meeting these requirements. Consequently, in recent years, art museum education has gradually shifted from a static exhibition - centered function to one that prioritizes multi-interactive spaces. The West Bund Art Museum in Shanghai, China, serves as an exemplar of this trend. This research takes the West Bund Art Museum as a case, adopting a qualitative analysis approach. It combines case-study methodologies with participatory observations and collects data through multiple channels, including literature analysis, interviews, and on-site observations. The data collected is synthesized using thematic analysis. The research findings indicate that multi-interactive educational spaces significantly stimulate learners' interest through immersive experiences, improve the effectiveness of knowledge acquisition, and simultaneously create more opportunities for literacy-focused education. Based on a comprehensive analysis, this research puts forward several suggestions for the educational space design of contemporary art museums. These include optimizing interactive content and strengthening technical support to enhance the depth and breadth of global cultural dissemination. This research is expected to provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the innovation of educational spaces in art museums globally, as well as offer valuable references for the educational design of other cultural and educational spaces.