Over the past few months, I have found myself asking a simple question...
What happens when we take Art Therapy beyond the therapy room and into our cultural spaces?
Before beginning my MSc placement at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in August 2019, I wanted to spend more time in museums and galleries and, more importantly, spend time with other people who enjoyed them too. So I decided to set up a 'Meetup' group called Arty Folks in 2018 that ran for a year until I started my Msc.
The group was open to anyone who wanted to explore museums, galleries and exhibitions around Dublin. It wasn't about being an artist or knowing lots about art history. It was simply about bringing people together to experience culture, have conversations and enjoy looking at art.
What I quickly noticed was how naturally people connected with the artwork. Everyone saw something different. One painting would remind someone of a childhood memory, another would start a conversation about travel or family, while someone else would simply enjoy sitting quietly and taking it all in. The artwork seemed to give people permission to slow down and reflect.
Those experiences have stayed with me.
As I begin my placement at the RHA as part of my MSc in Art Psychotherapy at Ulster University, I keep coming back to the same thought:
Could museums and galleries become places that support therapeutic reflection?
This is something I am really interested in exploring over the coming year and with my MSc research.
The idea I am beginning to call Cultural Art Therapy is still very much in its early stages. At its heart is a curiosity about how art, culture and psychotherapy might come together in a way that is both meaningful and professionally grounded.
My placement at the RHA will give me the opportunity to explore these ideas further while continuing to work within the ethical and professional standards of Art Psychotherapy. I am looking forward to seeing what I learn from the experience and, most importantly, from the people I will have the privilege of working alongside.
I don't yet know where this journey will lead, but it feels like the beginning of something important.
I'll be sharing my experiences here as the work develops, and I hope you'll enjoy following the journey with me.
Image: meetup group visiting RHA in June 2019