Museums are uniquely positioned to foster well-being, empathy, reflection, and human connection. As cultural institutions respond to growing needs in health, education, accessibility, and community engagement, Harnessing the Power of Museums provides a practical, evidence-informed guide for designing, facilitating, adapting, and evaluating museum-based well-being programs across museums of all disciplines. Drawing on interdisciplinary collaborations and workshops serving more than 20,000 participants, the contributors share proven frameworks, case studies, and evaluation strategies refined through partnerships with museums, medical schools, universities, healthcare systems, and community organizations.
Grounded in narrative medicine, reflective practice, and the ARCC Framework, Harnessing the Power of Museums offers adaptable approaches for engaging museum visitors, educators, healthcare professionals, students, caregivers, and community members. Through practical tools and real-world examples, readers will discover how museums can become powerful spaces for curiosity, belonging, dialogue, resilience, and flourishing.