Pathways to Wellbeing: exploring the social and spatial role of museums in supporting mental wellbeing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Museum Studies
Abstract
The proposed project aims to interrogate the meaning of 'wellbeing' and the impact museums can affect, specifically referencing Holbourne Museum's Pathways to Wellbeing programme.
Responding to the specified brief, the research will include:
1/ An in-depth ethnography of Pathways to Wellbeing establishing an understanding of the programme within a shifting national and international context which considers historical and contemporaneous approaches to understandings of, approaches to and treatments/solutions for mental health problems, social exclusion and isolation. It will also explore the same wide contextual perspective regarding the historical and contemporaneous perceptions and expectations about the role of museums and their potential for social impact.
This will reference the World Health Organisation's What is the evidence for the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing? 2019; Creative Practice as Mutual recovery: Connecting Communities for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Crawford; the work of Clive Parkinson, Director Arts for Health, Manchester School of Art; research developed by The Happy Museum, National Alliance for Arts Health and Wellbeing and other relevant documents.
I'd aim to work closely with the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance, Mind, Rethink , NHS and other mental health support organisations.
2/ In-depth, semi-structured interviews with participants will be carried out with utmost sensitivity, along with the development of other approaches to capture participant experiences of the programme. It may be useful to develop a small, additional project in order to measure participants' baseline perceptions about themselves, their wellbeing, the museum and the programme compared with any subsequent impact.
3/ Interviews with staff, volunteers and health commissioners will be carried out with an open agenda, exploring motivations, ideas of 'mutual recovery', considerations about funding etc., and other metrics established through consultation with stakeholders. It may be useful to carefully introduce provocations such as those used by Dr Clare Davaney, research Associate with Manchester Institute for Arts, Health and Social Change in her presentations about arts and health such as:
'Anyone can be an artist but not everyone can be a doctor'
'Art interventions are a cheap way to provide health care'
'Wellbeing programmes are how museums /galleries get their funding'
I would also reference Naismith's recent research exploring the impact of arts and health delivery on creative practitioners, 'Artists Practising Well' 2019.
The research would contribute to the body of work exploring the efficacy of creative arts interventions to improve wellbeing; potentially effecting change by leveraging improved support provision for people with mental health problems. I would aim to share/present the research as widely as possible, potentially publishing on-line and in hard-copy.
Responding to the specified brief, the research will include:
1/ An in-depth ethnography of Pathways to Wellbeing establishing an understanding of the programme within a shifting national and international context which considers historical and contemporaneous approaches to understandings of, approaches to and treatments/solutions for mental health problems, social exclusion and isolation. It will also explore the same wide contextual perspective regarding the historical and contemporaneous perceptions and expectations about the role of museums and their potential for social impact.
This will reference the World Health Organisation's What is the evidence for the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing? 2019; Creative Practice as Mutual recovery: Connecting Communities for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Crawford; the work of Clive Parkinson, Director Arts for Health, Manchester School of Art; research developed by The Happy Museum, National Alliance for Arts Health and Wellbeing and other relevant documents.
I'd aim to work closely with the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance, Mind, Rethink , NHS and other mental health support organisations.
2/ In-depth, semi-structured interviews with participants will be carried out with utmost sensitivity, along with the development of other approaches to capture participant experiences of the programme. It may be useful to develop a small, additional project in order to measure participants' baseline perceptions about themselves, their wellbeing, the museum and the programme compared with any subsequent impact.
3/ Interviews with staff, volunteers and health commissioners will be carried out with an open agenda, exploring motivations, ideas of 'mutual recovery', considerations about funding etc., and other metrics established through consultation with stakeholders. It may be useful to carefully introduce provocations such as those used by Dr Clare Davaney, research Associate with Manchester Institute for Arts, Health and Social Change in her presentations about arts and health such as:
'Anyone can be an artist but not everyone can be a doctor'
'Art interventions are a cheap way to provide health care'
'Wellbeing programmes are how museums /galleries get their funding'
I would also reference Naismith's recent research exploring the impact of arts and health delivery on creative practitioners, 'Artists Practising Well' 2019.
The research would contribute to the body of work exploring the efficacy of creative arts interventions to improve wellbeing; potentially effecting change by leveraging improved support provision for people with mental health problems. I would aim to share/present the research as widely as possible, potentially publishing on-line and in hard-copy.
