MUSEUM AS SPACE FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Abstract

Museums have always been regarded as centresof knowledge and culture, places where we can extend ourunderstanding of the surrounding world. Today, next to theirbasic tasks, museums also perform various social functions,playing an important role in establishing bonds with peopleand taking into account their experiences. New roles of theearly-21st-century museums go far beyond the up-to-now areasof the functioning of cultural institutions in society, witha transformation occurring in their activities targeted at theapplication of the collection’s emotional potential, narrative,space, and museum displays to have a therapeutic impact onthe public suffering from civilizational ailments, all this conductedin cooperation with psychologists, pedagogues, anddoctors. The activity in this respect has been yielding positiveeffects, and more often and in an increasing number proofsdemonstrating museums’ therapeutic value as well as theirsubstantial impact on people’s health and well-being havebeen observed. This new contemporary form of museums’activity is called museotherapy. The definition of the conceptprepared by Dorota Folga-Januszewska and Robert Kotowskihas been published in the Dictionary of Museology publishedin two languages: by Routledge in English and Armand Colinin French. The paper aims at popularizing the knowledge ofand disseminating so-far findings in museotherapy. Results ofresearch in this respect conducted in various countries andmuseotherapy-related implemented projects have been presentedin the article. All these may encourage museum curatorsto conduct classes in the discussed area.