The Interpositional Role of Art Therapy in Museum Settings

Co-authored by Denise Wolf, Kathryn Snyder, and Raquel Farrell-Kirk

Published in Art Therapy, Trauma, and Neuroscience, Routledge, 2024

Abstract

Museums are public institutions that inherently provide a space that inspirits visitors to engage in social and personal inquiry. Authors contend that the mission of museums is rooted in community engagement, inherently linked with art therapy theory and application. Aligning with trauma-sensitive approaches to treatment, this chapter identifies the central component of museum-based practice as the trifecta of embodied cognition, community care, and the value of psychological set and setting. Guidelines for community-based practice of art therapy in museum settings are identified through the authors' narrative recounting of practical applications of art therapy across museum settings, linked with contemporary research.