The use of emotion regulation by visitors to contemporary art commissions in heritage sites

This paper explores how a series of contemporary art commissions displayed in heritage sites were used for emotion regulation purposes. The data used was qualitative and originated from a research project entitled Mapping Contemporary Art in the Heritage Experience, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (undertaken between 2017 and 2019). The respondents (n = 22) came from four groups who visited five contemporary artworks that were commissioned for four heritage sites in North East England. The literature used to support the analysis originated from several disciplines and was chosen for its ability to help to explore the responses of the participants. We conclude that the respondents used the experience of engaging with the contemporary art commissions in heritage sites for emotion regulation. However, this was mainly observed when change in emotional response was perceived as necessary by respondents.