Reinventing the setting: Art therapy in museums

Museums, their settings and the objects they care for can be effective allies in art therapy treatment. With the use of two case examples that explore life stages, this article proposes four metaphorical roles that museums can play to facilitate treatment goals. These roles are: museum as co-leader, museum as group, museum as self, and museum as environment. Examples of their practical implementation in treatment are presented.

Research highlights▶ Museums can be effective allies in art therapy treatment. ▶ Including artistic institutions honor origins, evolution and role of art in art therapy. ▶ Logistics: space, artifacts, and duration are important in museum art therapy. ▶ Roles museums play in art therapy: museum as co-leader, group, self, and environment. ▶ Metaphorical roles of museums can facilitate treatment goals in life stages.