Art Therapy: What if Well-Being Comes Through Art?
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Feeling a little down? What if you replaced your shopping trips with a visit to a museum? It’s more eco-friendly, more intellectually stimulating, and most importantly, it has real benefits for mental health. Museum therapy is not exactly a science, but rather a wellness trend and a means of disconnecting, which soothes and brings serenity in a world that moves too fast.
What if wandering through a museum, surrounded by masterpieces of great painters, was one of the solutions to allow yourself a break during the week and create a little bubble of calm in the midst of the chaos of our lives?
Let’s focus on this practice that aims to do you good.
Museum Therapy: Art Therapy for Everyone
The concept of museum therapy first emerged after World War II and gained significance in the 1980s and 1990s. It developed alongside art therapy for patients with mental disorders before expanding to milder conditions such as ADHD or anxiety.
Unlike art therapy, museum therapy does not invite the public to engage in artistic practice but rather uses the soothing characteristics of the space, the surroundings, and the atmosphere to support the journey of the public.
Since 2010, therapeutic initiatives have multiplied. Initially for seriously ill individuals, with a therapist present to guide patients through a journey within the museum.
Then for the general public, thinking of the museum as a place for pause and disconnection, where the goal is not necessarily to learn dates or recognize aesthetic movements, but to let oneself be carried away by the aesthetics of the place, the benefits of colors, or the silence and calm that generally reign in museums.
The goal is not for the museum to become a place of healing but to play a therapeutic role in its objective of bringing the public closer to art.
The Benefits of Museums on Mental Health
Stepping away from screens, finding a moment for oneself surrounded by beautiful works, giving oneself a moment of calm… This is what visitors often mention when they come to the museum, not just to learn but also to find an oasis of serenity, all of course in a beautiful space where it is easy to navigate amidst works of art.
Without suffering from mental disorders, studies have shown that visits to museums have a positive effect on mental health. They notably reduce stress levels and improve concentration. Even a short visit can provide a sense of calm comparable to that of a walk in nature.
For a public with more specific needs, such as those suffering from anxiety or post-traumatic stress, certain museums, like the one in Lille, offer a museum prescription. The goal? To allow a patient to benefit from a session accompanied by art therapy within the museum, combining artistic practice and care.
Museum Therapy: Art Therapy for EveryoneThe concept of museum therapy first emerged after World War II, gaining importance in the 1980s and 1990s. It developed alongside art therapy for patients with mental disorders before extending to lighter pathologies such as ADHD or anxiety.
Unlike art therapy, museum therapy does not invite the public to engage in artistic practice, but rather utilizes the calming characteristics of the venue, the spaces, and the ambiance to accompany the journey of visitors.
Since 2010, therapeutic initiatives have multiplied. Initially for seriously ill individuals, with a therapist present to guide patients through a museum journey.
Then for the general public, thinking of the museum as a place for pause and disconnection, where the goal is not necessarily to learn dates or recognize aesthetic movements, but to let oneself be carried away by the aesthetics of the place, the benefits of colors, or the silence and calm that generally prevail in museums.
The goal is not for the museum to become a care facility, but to play a therapeutic role in its mission to bring the public closer to art.
The Benefits of Museums on Mental Health
Stepping away from screens, finding a moment for oneself surrounded by beautiful works, treating oneself to a moment of calm… This is what most visitors report when they come to the museum, not just to learn but also to find an oasis of serenity, all in a beautiful space where it is easy to navigate surrounded by artworks.
Without suffering from mental disorders, studies have shown that visits to museums have a positive effect on mental health. They notably reduce stress levels and improve concentration. Even a short visit can provide a soothing experience comparable to a walk in nature.
For a public with more specific needs suffering from anxiety or post-traumatic stress, certain museums, like the one in Lille, offer a prescription for museum visits. The goal? To allow a patient to benefit from a session accompanied by art therapy within the museum, combining artistic practice and care.
Museums: True Actors of Evolution
We tend to view museums through the works on display: unchanging, untouchable, and frozen in their time. However, this is far from the case. Indeed, museums evolve with mentalities and today, most of them focus on creating initiatory and playful paths so that visitors not only enjoy looking at the works but also live a truly positive experience. This desire for openness gradually transforms museums into living spaces of sharing and inclusion, well beyond their primary mission of conservation.
The Lille museum, in collaboration with the CHU, is thus offering a women’s workshop for breast cancer prevention in October. A different initiative that shows how much museums have an interest in adapting to societal changes and how they can become true social actors for an audience seeking knowledge… and self-knowledge.
In the same spirit, the Carnavalet museum in Paris offers a queer tour created by an LGBTQIA+ guide to provide a safe and secure space for an audience that wishes to feel completely at home in public space. These new approaches prove that museums seek to reach diverse communities and expand their cultural role into a social role.
The same goes for children: more and more institutions are integrating their youngest visitors by giving them the freedom to express themselves, without stifling them or disturbing other spectators. They are thus supported in their art discovery with tailored devices that transform the visit into both an educational and fun moment.
Featured Image: Photo by Pauline Loroy on Unsplash
