¹Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität Berlin, Germany
²Germany

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This pilot project (January 2024–March 2026) examines the role of art therapy in improving wellbeing within museum settings. Conducted by art therapists – postgraduate alumni from Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität Berlin (SFU) – in collaboration with the Antikensammlung, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (SMB), the study explores art therapeutic approaches in non-clinical environments. The intervention consists of a monthly workshop series held at the Altes Museum, located on Berlin’s reconstructed Museum Island.

The programme aims to strengthen collaborations between the arts and health sectors and pilot art therapeutic interventions in museums. The group is led by two art therapists working in tandem, exploring the intersection of art education and art therapy within museum settings. By integrating receptive art therapeutic tools in a non-clinical environment, the workshops foster deep introspection and promote trauma-informed practices, aligning with WHO recommendations to harness the healing power of the arts across the lifespan. Through receptive art therapy art encounters, als well as active art therapy, we create supportive environments that encourage eye-opening experiences, combining creative practices with calm, playful dialogue.

Methodologically, the study integrates tools such as the Aesthetic Experience Questionnaire (AEQ) to measure aesthetic responses to artworks and the UCL Museum Wellbeing Measures Toolkit to assess psychological wellbeing using a pre-post design. Findings from the 18 participants (N = 18) contribute to the development of non-stigmatizing, inclusive frameworks for art therapy in museums. Ultimately, museums must prioritize accessibility to ensure all visitors feel welcome and safe. Further implementation studies could move this field closer to that goal and researchers are encouraged to expand these methods and ensure broader accessibility.