Reframing Mental Health in Museums and Galleries  

How can museums engage creatively with people with mental health problems?  

In February 2023 we were joined by guest practitioners, and cultural institutions for a day of talks, practical case studies, and workshops providing an introduction into targeted work engaging people with mental health conditions, and space for organisations to reflect on applying it to their context.  

The day aimed to explore the following discussion points : 

• What are the benefits and challenges of targeted work engaging people with mental health conditions?  
• How can we collaborate and work in partnership with the NHS, clinical settings and voluntary bodies such as Mind?  
• How we can support staff who are delivering targeted work?  
• How can targeted work with people with mental health conditions impact organisations as a whole?   
• How can we share best practise and increase the visibility of work taking place specifically in the museum and gallery sector?  

Resources from the Day  

Talks  

You can find recordings of the morning talks and the roundtable discussion from the day below.  

Overview 

Keynote: Safe enough to take a risk? Reflecting on two projects at Chisenhale Gallery Seth Pimlott, Chisenhale Gallery

Presentation: Working with Audiences with Lived Experiences of Mental Health, David Luck, Bethlem Museum of the Mind

Roundtable

Presentations  

Our Creatively Minded Padlet Board contains the presentations from the day in addition to resources shared from the speakers and contributors. We have also added some provocations, and created space for you to share your own projects,ask a question or share a challenge. 

https://padlet.com/learning151/reframing-mental-health-in-museums-and-galleries-khhorz3am98lwgdo 

If you haven’t used Padlet before you can find some starter tips via this How To Guide.  

Wider Resources  

How can museums engage creatively with people with mental health problems?  

This new report from the Baring Foundation working with the Museums Association features 16 museums who are taking the lead in this area. Download a copy of Creatively Minded at the Museum. 

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