Museums and art galleries as research partners in public health interventions

Potentially unknown to the healthcare sector, many museums and art galleries currently offer innovative programmes that seek to address health inequalities, offer support to caregivers and provide education within an aesthetically stimulating and creatively enhancing environment. Some of these programmes, activities and research studies, for example, have addressed health and wellbeing issues such as mental health problems, dementia, cancer, and lifelong learning for older adult. This paper discusses the current and future possibilities concerning the role of art galleries and museums in public health interventions and more broadly as partners in public health.