Art, Healing and Museums: museum‑based art psychotherapy and healing
The Network of European Museum Organisations have released a new publication exploring the intersection between museums, mental health, and care. Entitled “Art, healing and museums: Exploring museum‑based art psychotherapy practices with a focus on the No Words programme at the National Gallery of Ireland”, the document builds upon the findings from a 2023 pilot collaborative project between the National Gallery of Ireland, art psychotherapist Andrea Plunkett, and Saoirse, a domestic violence support service, which used museum-based art psychotherapy to engage participants affected by violence, trauma and diverse forms of social marginalisation.
It provides insights, encouragement and critical perspectives for those working at the intersection of cultural engagement and mental health.
When museums embrace care as a central value, they not only serve their audiences more deeply but also reimagine their role within society.
The publication ends with an open invitation to organisations and practitioners working in art psychotherapy, arts and health, and community development, to connect, collaborate and co-create to build upon the work of the publication so that creativity, care and equity lies at the heart of cultural practice, supports systemic change and nurtures a more compassionate museum landscape across Europe.
Image source: Network of European Museum Organisations, 2026