When we do this, what benefits might we see?

Recent research in the field of neuroaesthetics (the study into the impact that art and aesthetics has on us) is proving again and again the benefits of the arts to our mental health and emotional wellbeing. The recent book Your Brain On Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross explains how our brains are hardwired for the arts, how they help us flourish, and how they even change us on a biological level, even helping us live longer.

The arts help us make meaning in our lives, enabling us to see the world, ourselves or a situation in new ways. Even consuming what’s sometimes called high art has been shown to lend life itself more meaning. The arts can slow us down, helping us be present, get quiet (and even meditative) and hear ourselves think again. They can connect us to the breadth of human life and experiences, increasing empathy and moving us to action. And they can offer us safe spaces to investigate our emotional lives, facilitating emotional release and allowing for complex feelings to come through.

Some museums have even started to embrace art therapy techniques for troubled times, and museum prescriptions are being tested in Belgium for people with anxiety and depression.

Are there any ways we can get going to a museum ‘wrong’?

Sometimes when we visit museums, we bring self-judgement: we’re worried that we don’t get it, we know nothing about art or we’re doing it the wrong way. We can find arts institutions intimidating. Leave that at the door and centre your visit on you: what do you need (calm, inspiration, wonder) and what are your interests (fuelling curiosity, building awareness, becoming more grounded)?

If you feel overwhelmed, bring in a boundary: just this gallery today, just this artist, just this floor. You don’t have to choose the masterpiece that everyone visits: often the collection displays are less crowded and hold the most appeal. Pick a single work and spend your time with it. Build relationships with artworks the way you would with people. Make the museum your emotional playground.

If you still find museums unsettling, you can access the mental health benefits of the arts through other media like the theatre, live music or even the cinema. Seek out the cultural destination where you feel most comfortable, one that offers a sense of belonging to you.

One Good Thing: how going to a museum or art gallery can be transformative for your mental health