RE Imagine asks you to step in to a new relationship ....... with your wellbeing, alongside others in an environment you may not think of when considering your mental health. There has been a worldwide movement where art therapists bring their work to non-clinical, cultural settings such as museums and galleries for over a decade. Research in this work has shown many benefits, including the following:

 

• enhanced self esteem, self awareness, sublimation, socialisations skills, introspection and creativity * 

• dynamic relationships through the provision of 'safe space, pleasure and time for reflection and bonding' **

• inspire people's stories, value of self and view 'identity' from different perspectives

• validation, commonality, friendship and genuineness

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    *Robertson, D.N. 2011. Free Time in an Art Museum: Pausing, Gazing and Interacting. Leisure Sciences, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 70-80

  ** Silverman L. (2010) The Social Work of Museums. p. 55 Routledge: New York

*** Hutchinson, S. 2014. Art Therapy in Museums and Galleries: Sinan Hutchinson, 22/10/2014, Information document sent by MagSIG Joint Coordinator Sinan        Hutchinson to the members of the Museums and Galleries Specialist interest Group (MagSIG) of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) on 5 November, 2014

**** Colbert et al. 2013, The Art Gallery as a Resource for Recovery for People Who Have Experienced Psychosis. The Arts in Psychotherapy, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 250-6.

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