Museums as Therapeutic Environments

In this chapter, the authors discuss the intersectional nature of the concept of the therapeutic landscapes, drawn from geographical thought, and the contemporary museum in all its variety. More specifically, the chapter examines the current and future potential of museums as customized therapeutic landscapes that capitalize on their unique characteristics to improve the health and well-being of their visitors. The focus here is on visitors who may have physical and mental health ailments which may be improved by and through appropriate events, exhibitions and design features, and processes within the museum environment. The key idea here is that through current museum activities aimed at, for example, the socially isolated and people with dementias, the knowledge-to-practice envelope of museums will grow and diversify. The authors contextualize this through a nonclinical lens, which is to say the museum is not presented as a “treatment” environment but, rather, a landscape for both preventive care and health improvements including potential healing. The chapter draws on the fact that many museums are already involved in varied therapeutic activities and suggests opportunities to extend and enhance the ways in which museums might further develop their skills and knowledge.