This study aims to verify that there are significant correlations among a creative space’s experience program, the spatial image perceived by visitors and their intention to revisit the space based on the theoretical studies on experience programs, ...
This study aims to verify that there are significant correlations among a creative space’s experience program, the spatial image perceived by visitors and their intention to revisit the space based on the theoretical studies on experience programs, spatial images and behavioral intentions. To this end, Art Space IAa, which opened in May, 2017, was set as a place for this empirical study, and a survey was conducted on 300 visitors to Art Space IAa.
Regarding the experience program, which is the independent variable, this study used 4Es (i.e. educational, entertainment, escapist, and esthetic experiences) in Pine and Gilmore's (1998) experience economy theory. As for the spatial image, cognitive and affective images were used based on Baloglu & McCleary’s theory.
This study found that the 4Es of the creative space’s experience program affected the creative space’s cognitive and affective images perceived by visitors and had correlations with visitors’ intention to revisit the space. The results of the empirical analysis can be summarized as follow.
First, all of the 4Es, which were the components of the creative space’s experience program, had positive effects on the spatial image perceived by visitors and their intention to revisit the space.
Second, of the components of the creative space’s experience program, educational, entertainment and esthetic experiences had positive effects on the affective and cognitive images, which were the components of a spatial image. An escapist experience had a positive effect on the affective image, but no effect on the cognitive image.
Third, it was found that the affective and cognitive images, which were the components of a spatial image, had positive effects on visitors’ intention to revisit the space.
As seen above, this study found that the creative space’s experience program contributed to forming the positive spatial image perceived by visitors, and that an experience program and a spatial image had positive effects on visitors’ intention to revisit the space.
Based on the above results of the study analysis, the following implications and suggestions were derived for the reinvigoration of a creative space.
First, most visitors visited the creative space in order to participate in an experience program. Particularly, the majority visitors visited the space to participate in an educational program. Therefore, various educational programs should be organized to attract visitors.
Second, an active effort to improve the spatial image and the composition of an experience program should be made so as to induce visitors to revisit the creative space. This requires professional planners who can plan and operate experience programs that suit local circumstances in consideration of experience elements and components of a spatial image.
Third, a considerable number of visitors to the creative space visited the space upon the recommendation of acquaintances. Therefore, there is a need for systematic word-of-mouth marketing that utilizes visitor information, such as text and mailing services.
It is considered that the results of this study will help presenting practical directions for the existence and reinvigoration of the creative spaces.