The Role of Museums and Galleries in Promoting Health and Wellbeing

Over the past decade the field of ‘Museums in Health’ has grown rapidly and now boasts a promising evidence base that attests to the wide-reaching potential of museum spaces and their collections to support the health and wellbeing of individuals and their communities. This chapter provides an overview of the field, primarily illustrated through research studies focused on the benefits of museum attendance and engagement in museum activities. The first section documents the literature on cultural attendance, including museum and art gallery visiting, and its impact on population health and wellbeing. The second section explores the evidence from tailored museum programming developed in collaboration with healthcare providers for communities facing specific health challenges, including the concept of the ‘museum on prescription’. The following four sections explore these areas of practice in greater depth including: museum object handling for wellbeing, paintings in hospitals, the ‘Mindful Museum’, and art therapy in museums and art galleries. The final section covers the role of the museum in public health education and promotion.<p></p>