Mental Health Awareness Week

Pathways to Wellbeing celebrates its first birthday!

The Holburne Museum’s Pathways to Wellbeing programme promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through using the Museum’s collection, exhibitions and site in Bath to inspire and engage people, ‘Changing Lives Through Art.’

In the first year of our three year Big Lottery funded project we have directly engaged with over 80 local people with lived experience of mental health issues, social isolation and homelessness.

Our partnerships with health and support organisations (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust, Creativity Works, Genesis Trust, Julian House, DH1, Second Steps) have enabled us to reach out to some of the most vulnerable people in our local community.

The Holburne has
• run over 120 creative sessions in our 3 partner museums
• Provided creative opportunities for people who are homeless through Julian House night shelter
• trained museum volunteers to mentor vulnerable adults
• engaged with patients at the Royal United Hospital and St Martins Garden (dementia assessment unit) using our museum handling collection
• organised 5 exhibitions, showcasing art work produced by project participants including: Fresh Art exhibition – Bath Artists Studios, May 2016 Shadowlands papercut installation – Fringe Arts Bath, Bath city centre, 2016, Silver Lustre, ceramics exhibition – Holburne Museum, December 2016, Christmas party exhibition – Holburne Museum, 2016, Silver Rings exhibition – Holburne Museum, January 2017, Lawrence Inspires…Oil painting portraits – Holburne Museum, April 2017
• Welcomed over 60 new people into the museum by organising FREE Museums and Wellbeing events
• Advocacy for Museums and Wellbeing work – Delivered training/ teaching based on our Museums and Wellbeing work to over 70 people including:

February 2017 ‘Widening Participation in Volunteering – Mentored Volunteering Project in practice’ an event run in partnership with South West Museum Development Programme for museum colleagues across the South West.

BA Heritage Studies students, Bath Spa University
Health and Social Care students, Bath City College

Louise Campion, Learning & Outreach Officer at the Holburne Museum, is speaking at the forthcoming International ‘Culture, Health and Wellbeing’ Conference in Bristol this June ‘From theory to practice: Are you ready? Get set! Go! – Health and Wellbeing in Museums’

September 2017 Volunteering for Wellbeing: Exploring the issues – Royal Albert Memorial Museum Exeter

Quotes from Participants:

‘Being part of the group has given me the chance to get out, socialise and be less isolated.
I’ve also gained a sense of purpose. Using the museums for creative activities has also aided my wellbeing – definitely.
I have gained knowledge about how to use new materials and techniques and a sense of achievement and group pride.
I was isolated, overwhelmed and very down before I had this opportunity. I didn’t have much confidence. And although these feelings are still there, I have so much more to look forward to.’

‘Having to research the museum’s art collection has helped with my memory problems and the one to one mentoring process has been a very nurturing and encouraging experience for me. I love people and my interest in history and art has contributed to what I can offer as a volunteer.
The Holburne’s volunteer mentoring scheme is a really good way of the museum reaching out into the local community and the care and support I’ve experienced has really improved my confidence in dealing with the visitors. It’s also opened my eyes to today’s art as well as the permanent collection of paintings in the museum. I’ve particularly enjoyed the Breughel exhibition this year and the conversations I’ve been able to have with visitors about the paintings. The Holburne is a very professional place but working there I’ve experienced a real home from home feeling – it’s such an encouraging environment – it has healing properties!’

‘I’ve been sleeping rough for the past 12 years and everything I own is hard-earnt and cherished. A piece of paper or a pen to me is precious. I’d never done any kind of art before coming to this project, but I’ve really progressed and it’s a lot of fun.’

Pathways to Wellbeing Painting Class
Pathways to Wellbeing Painting Class