Vox pop: Can museums prove that they are good for your health?

“We know that we can affect the lives of visitors by focusing our venue assets, collection expertise and resources on making a difference to people’s health and wellbeing.

A growing number of museums actively reach out to connect with people living in poverty and poor health.

To prove that we are good for health, we must strengthen our reputation as a social resource, a sector that cares and wants to support all members of society.
By doing so, we will position ourselves as an important social asset that is indisputably good for the nation’s health.”


“It has been shown that intensive museum programmes have a positive impact on the health of individuals over a period of time, and even that visiting an art museum for 30 minutes reduces stress much more quickly than normal.

About 15 studies of thousands of people over decades have shown that cultural attendance makes people healthier, to the extent that they live longer.
The studies are controlled for income, education, smoking, chronic illness and gender, and show that cultural attendance is a separate variable, not a consequence of other factors.”


“Perhaps the most compelling evidence comes from collaboration with academics using standardised research methods.

The results of these studies show that museums contribute in a variety of ways by providing positive social experiences leading to reduced social isolation, calming experiences leading to decreased anxiety, increased positive emotions such as optimism, hope and enjoyment, increased self-esteem and a sense of identity and community, and a positive distraction from clinical environments.”


“Museums can work to provide evidence that they are good for your health. ‘Evidence’ is anything that is presented in support of an assertion. The better the evidence the more likely an assertion will be supported.

Different audiences (NHS commissioners, local councils, charities, the public) are all likely to be interested in different types of evidence to support the assertion that museums are good for your health. Museums need to consider what audiences they are targeting and what type of evidence is needed.”