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Iconic Emirates Art Museum explains how art can help support community health through various classes within its premises
Museums are not only places to promote culture and knowledge, but their role in our lives has become prominent, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. For the past few years, museums like the Louvre Abu Dhabi have been supporting mental health causes through world-class artwork.
Maral Jule Bedoyan, manager of education and learning resources at Louvre Abu Dhabi, points out that art is a powerful tool for improving physical and mental health because it allows the mind to slow down and focus on the details.
“It’s well known that engaging with art in any form is good for your overall health. It allows you to slow down your time to observe, reflect, spend some time thinking about things,” she said, emphasizing that observing, understanding and appreciating art can Restore and improve mental health.
Museums are places where people can connect through art, Bedoyan said.
“When it comes to museums, especially fine art, whether it’s paintings from historical periods, ancient or modern to contemporary, they are able to take a moment to look at the object. Through the idea of seeing, it’s about triggering reflection. The concept of looking at something, looking at the details, looking at the process, kind of lost in the interaction with the artwork. This is the moment when you are able to connect.”
Some researchers have found that art museums help reduce anxiety and depression.
The Louvre is a “Museum of Mindfulness”
After being temporarily closed due to Covid-19, the Louvre Abu Dhabi reopened in the second half of 2020 as a “museum of mindfulness” that supports community members by sharing the healing power of art.
Bedoyan noted that a museum is a space that serves the public by promoting physical, social and mental health.
“Museums are spaces where people come to reflect, engage and learn new things and find opportunities for dialogue.”
Since 2020, we have developed a series of events and programs and made them available to the public, allowing them to interact with the museum from different perspectives. Initiatives include Mindful Art Moments (short films about artworks), Pulse of Time (films that immerse people), kayaking tours around the museum (promoting fitness and well-being) and yoga sessions under the iconic dome (affecting the mind, body and soul).
To mark World Mental Health Day on October 10, Louvre Abu Dhabi hosted two meaningful events over the weekend: Sound Healing and Drum Circles.
The Sound Healing session is a 60-minute deep relaxation and stress release as people move through the museum galleries with the healing energy of sound. In the drum circle session, people form a collective voice through the beats and percussion of the tambourine, led by a music scholar. Both events are held in the open air under the dome, where people can enjoy the pleasant weather and stunning architecture.
The museum is working with different centers of determined people, often offering them specific activities and volunteering opportunities, and working with seniors.
The impact of art on patients
Bedoyan recounted the case of a critically ill patient who spent months in hospital almost forgetting the pain of visiting the Louvre in Abu Dhabi.
“He was getting a lot of medical care and wanted to visit the museum. The doctor didn’t think he could go more than 20 minutes. It was a quick visit, but even after two hours the patient was still very engaged in the artwork and the conversation around it, He forgot his pain. In that moment, he was completely lost. That event gave us a huge motivation to keep doing the work we were doing.”
The museum is now in talks with hospitals and healthcare centers to welcome patients, caregivers and more.
“Our goal is to engage healthcare organisations and see how spaces like museums can be integral to patient treatment and wellbeing,” she added.
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