Aims: To assess the biopsychosocial effects of participation in a unique, combined arts- and nature-based museum intervention, involving engagement with horticulture, artmaking and museum collections, on adult mental health service users. Methods: Adult mental health service users (total n = 46 across two phases) with an average age of 53 were referred through social prescribing by community partners (mental health nurse and via a day centre for disadvantaged and vulnerable adults) to a 10-week ‘creative green prescription’ programme held in Whitworth Park and the Whitworth Art Gallery. The study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design comprising two phases – Phase 1 (September to December 2016): qualitative research investigating the views of participants ( n = 26) through semi-structured interviews and diaries and Phase 2 (February to April 2018): quantitative research informed by Phase 1 analysing psychological wellbeing data from participants ( n = 20) who completed the UCL Museum Wellbeing Measure pre–post programme. Results: Inductive thematic analysis of Phase 1 interview data revealed increased feelings of wellbeing brought about by improved self-esteem, decreased social isolation and the formation of communities of practice. Statistical analysis of pre–post quantitative measures in Phase 2 found a highly significant increase in psychological wellbeing. Conclusion: Creative green prescription programmes, using a combination of arts- and nature-based activities, present distinct synergistic benefits that have the potential to make a significant impact on the psychosocial wellbeing of adult mental health service users. Museums with parks and gardens should consider integrating programmes of outdoor and indoor collections-inspired creative activities permitting combined engagement with nature, art and wellbeing.
Background: The study examined the effects of museum outreach sessions on confidence, sociability and wellbeing measures for mental health (n=85) and addiction recovery (n=59) service-users taking an asset-based approach and research design. Method: Both groups participated in weekly outreach sessions combining object handling and museum visits with arts and craft activities. Using mixed methods, measures of confidence, sociability and wellbeing were evaluated quantitatively through a 'ladder of change' model of steps towards independence and feedback was analysed qualitatively. Results: Comparison of scores from first, mid and last sessions showed increases across all measures. Qualitative analysis revealed additional gains including pride, learning and skills, and creativity. Findings were interpreted in terms of social capital, independence and resilience. Conclusions: Creative museum activities showed increases in participant levels of confidence, sociability and wellbeing. The study highlighted the potential of asset-based approaches augmenting research on the value of museum activities to health and wellbeing.
In recent years geographers have paid attention to the practices and spaces of care, yet museums rarely feature in this body of literature. Drawing on research conducted with two large museum services -one in England, and one in Scotland -this paper frames museums' community engagement programmes as spaces of care. We offer insights into the practice of community engagement, and note how this is changing as a result of austerity. Our focus is on the routine, everyday caring practices of museum community engagement workers. We further detail the new and renewed strategic partnerships that have been forged as a result of cutbacks in the museum sector and beyond. We note that museums' community engagement workers are attempting to position themselves relative to a number of other institutions and organisations at the current moment. Drawing on empirical material from the two case study sites, we suggest that museums' community engagement programmes could be seen as fitting within a broader landscape of care, and we conceptualise their activities as expressions of progressive localism.
This article suggests that collaborative approaches can inform the development of future methods for creative health research and evaluation initiatives and to support this, it outlines the process of development of a new observational tool for people with dementia.
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