Examining High School Students' Attitudes towards Contemporary and Digital Art and Virtual Exhibitions

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between high school students' attitudes towards contemporary and digital art, and virtual exhibitions in terms of several variables. The research employed the "Survey Model," one of the quantitative research methods, and the "Comparative Correlational Survey Model" as its basis. The research sample consisted of 350 high school students enrolled in private and public high schools in a provincial center, selected through simple random sampling. Research data were collected online using the Attitude Scale Towards Virtual Exhibitions, the Attitude Scale Towards Contemporary Arts, and the Attitude Scale Towards Digital Art. Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way ANOVA, and Scheffe Tests were used in data analysis. The research results revealed that the students' general attitudes towards these areas were positive and high-level. While positive perceptions towards digital arts and the educational role of virtual exhibitions were particularly prominent, attitudes towards the virtual exhibition experience dimension were found to be relatively lower compared to other dimensions. Female students' attitudes toward various aspects of contemporary art, digital art, and virtual exhibitions are significantly more positive than male students. Regarding grade level, upper-grade students have higher attitude scores on the variables "contemporary art attitudes," "the educational role of virtual exhibitions," and "virtual exhibition experience." Students' attitudes toward contemporary and digital arts significantly and positively predict their attitudes toward virtual exhibitions; these variables explain approximately 20% of attitudes toward virtual exhibitions. Therefore, art educators are encouraged to focus on content that enhances students' experiences with digital art and virtual exhibitions. Education policymakers are advised to develop contemporary curricula that include digital art tools and to adopt inclusive arts education policies. Researchers are encouraged to conduct studies that further examine the effects of virtual exhibition experiences on student achievement, motivation, and creativity.