Visiting the museum at night: A decidedly different experience

Late-night openings at museums and new schedules are now frequently used by museum professionals to attract a larger audience, such as young working adults. But there is more to the phenomenon than the museum’s mere use as a communicational tool. These late openings take place at night, a very specific time of the day. Not only does night bring darkness and, therefore, artificial lighting, but it is also a period that differentiates itself from daytime physically, mentally, and socially. The visitor seeks to satisfy certain particular identity needs and looks for specific benefits from the night-time visit. The nocturnal context of the visit creates a different relationship with the museum, which could then become the basis of a renewed appreciation of museum visiting, of its interpretation, and finally, of the vision of the museum itself. Therefore, ‘night at the museum’ could become a medium for new explorations and new understandings of the museum.