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A place for care and connection: The potential for art therapy in museum and cultural spaces
Journal article   Peer reviewed

A place for care and connection: The potential for art therapy in museum and cultural spaces

Kathryn Snyder
The Arts in psychotherapy, v 98, 102442
Apr 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2026.102442
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Abstract

Ethics of care Museum education Museum-based art therapy New museology Wellbeing
Museums are increasingly engaging with initiatives related to community wellbeing, social responsibility, and public engagement. Within this evolving landscape, art therapy has begun to appear in museum programming; however, little research has examined how museum professionals understand and navigate the integration of art therapy within institutional contexts. This qualitative study explores museum professionals’ perspectives on art therapy programming in the United States. Guided by principles from new museology and an ethics of care framework, the study investigates how museums conceptualize care-oriented practices and the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating art therapy into museum environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with museum professionals working across a range of institutional roles and geographic locations. Data analysis identified four primary themes: (1) evolving institutional commitments to community connection and care, (2) interest in art therapy alongside concerns about ethical practice and professional boundaries, (3) emerging redefinitions of museum roles and cross-sector collaboration, and (4) structural challenges related to sustainability, resources, and institutional communication. Findings suggest that while museums demonstrate growing interest in art therapy as a means of deepening community engagement, clearer frameworks are needed to guide ethical collaboration between museum professionals and credentialed art therapists. In response, the study proposes a relational ecosystem framework for conceptualizing art therapy in museum contexts, highlighting how institutional environments, professional collaboration, cultural objects, and community needs interact to shape care-oriented practices in museum settings. •Art therapy in museums has a long history but remains a small and emerging area of professional practice.•Museums increasingly prioritize relevance, health, and wellbeing in efforts to support their communities.•Museum professionals show growing interest in art therapy for engagement, reinvention, and care-centered practice.•A care-centered relational framework may support ethical, sustainable art therapy practice in museums.

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