September at the International Museotherapy Initiative
First, an IMI update: we officially became one of the top 100 Substacks in the International space. Thank you for helping us make that happen!
This past month, I had the privilege of experiencing the Bluegrass, Green Skies Exhibition as well as the Contemporary Fiber: Botanicals Exhibition at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Afterwards, I sauntered through endless blooms and botanicals. I went with a dear friend (another art appreciator who works in museum spaces). When I tell you I was inspired, it’s an absolute understatement. I felt the shift I haven’t felt in so long — a physical shift of awe, inspiration, community, possibility, and fascination of mind-bending artistic talent. It sparked wonder, conversation, and future collaboration ideas. I’m already planning my next museum visit. How about you?
September is also a busy, magical month and we’re thrilled to have Brooke Christensen onboard to bolster us through the rest of the year. If you haven’t read her inaugural post, please take time to do so here. Her writing is eloquent, in-depth, and inspiring. You can look forward to hearing from her about once a month for some longer reads.
We’re also gearing up for some special interviews. Is there a museum-based therapist currently hosting or collaborating with a museum for fall exhibits or classes? Let us know! We’re here to share, inspire, and connect— especially with our international colleagues.
We’re excited to step into this new chapter with you. Thank you for being part of this initiative and for carrying forward the vision of museums as spaces for reflection, connection, imagination, and care.
Kindly,
Minette + The IMI Team
Some Recent Museum-Based Art Therapy Updates and Links From Around the Web:
A project report we came about was released in July 2025 by Guangyu Chang (Drexel University) focused on trauma-informed art therapy within museum environments. The initiative aimed to bridge healing and community engagement by utilizing museum spaces as restorative environments that actively promote emotional well-being and social cohesion. The project emphasized the societal benefits of museum-based art therapy, including fostering empathy, reducing mental health stigma, and strengthening community ties. Here is the downloadable PDF.
For the 2025 American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Annual Conference, a presentation titled "Museum-based Art Social Prescribing: Empirical Research in South Korea" is scheduled. This research aims to explore the effectiveness of prescribing museum visits as part of social prescribing initiatives in South Korea, highlighting the therapeutic potential of cultural engagement in improving mental health outcomes. More information here
Starting August 11, 2025, the Audain Museum (Whistler, BC) introduced weekly Monday afternoon art therapy sessions for teenagers, aiming to foster emotional well-being through creative expression. Led by Angela Walsh Noble, an art therapy teacher-in-training with over two decades of experience, the classes provide a platform for teens to process their feelings and experiences through art. Great article and more info here
This isn’t museum-based, per se, but it is a community space and we support it. The creation of the UNBROKEN Art WORKSHOP for art therapy for veterans and wounded people has started in Lviv. The investment from German partners is 1 million euros — the funds were raised by the residents of Freiburg, and the city authorities doubled the amount to support Ukrainians who suffered from the war. We love to hear it! More information here.
This was a fun nod to art as therapy, museums and creation — plus the branding was flawless!
A Few Events of Note:
Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art (Durham, North Carolina)
Hosts regular art therapy sessions that include creative expression and group discussions, free, and open to the public. Art Therapy at the Nasher is designed as a group therapy experience that allows participants to explore, through the language of art-making, their feelings about cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and recurrence. The group is led by a licensed art therapist, Geoffrey Vaughn, LMFT ATR, who is also a medical family therapist on Duke Cancer Institute’s Supportive Care team, and is open to both patients and caregivers, 18 years and older, who are facing cancer.
The AATA Conference is set for October 8-11 in Portland, Oregon
This conference, with the theme "Exploring the Benefits of Arts Therapies through the Lens of Neuroscientific Theories," delves into the intersection of neuroscience and creative arts therapies, focusing on how artistic expression fosters resilience and well-being. Presentations will cover topics such as grief work and the integration of art materials and techniques in therapy.
The World Art Therapy Festival is set for September 26-28 in Prague
This event is organized by the MAUT Association and offers a unique opportunity to explore the transformative potential of art. The festival will center around five key themes:
Interpersonal Relationships and Communication
Self-Development, Self-Awareness, and Self-Confidence
Stress, Burnout, Relaxation, and Releasing Tension
The Present Moment and Virtuality
Psychosomatics
Lastly, if you are in the museum, art therapy, or museotherapy world and you are hiring, feel free to drop a line. If you’re a graduate student or someone looking for a job in the field or want to get involved with IMI, please don’t hesitate to do the same.
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