In this paper we analyze culture as integral aspect of everyday life and the
ways culture is actualized through cultural participation. The research
presented in this paper is part of the Center for Designing the Everyday
project, which aims to explore the current state and possibilities for establishing a new model of participatory governance in culture based on
the model of participatory democracy. In this research, designed and
conducted to assess the state of cultural participation at two intervals
over a two-year period, the aim was to determine whether there are differences in the types of participation and motivations for participation
in cultural events and activities before and after initiatives aimed at reinforcing the model of participatory governance. The paper draws on
three conceptual turns, namely postmodern, cultural, and participatory,
to examine the repositioning of cultural participation in everyday life.
Two surveys were undertaken in 2018 and 2020, targeting an intentional
sample of visitors to cultural institutions and associations operating in
the field of visual arts. Given the specific timeframe, the results are interpreted in the context of the pandemic. Results imply strengthening of
cultural participation connected to cultural consumption, while participation connected to cultural production is decaling. Furthermore, interactive cultural participation in digital and virtual environment indicates
inequalities among different social groups especially when it comes to
elderly population that has proven to be vulnerable in terms of frequency and availability of interactive cultural participation.
Keywords: cultural participation; participatory culture; visitors; visual
art institutions; Croatia