In our rapidly changing world, museums are becoming more than just collection keepers. They are assuming a new role — spaces of care, dialogue, and revival. Today, when emotional and mental wellbeing is recognized as a critical factor in society’s resilience, cultural institutions can provide support for visitors, staff, and communities. The conference “A Space for Revival” brings together leading experts in the field of psychology, pedagogy and sociology as well as museum educational and inclusive programs’ curators and practitioners.
Theatre as a Transformative Space: Enhancing Mental and Emotional Wellbeing in Museums
In this masterclass, Dr Foteini Venieri invites participants to explore the intersection between museum theatre and wellbeing, focusing on how performative techniques can foster emotional resilience, empathy, and personal reflection in museum visitors.
Through a combination of discussion, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will:
- Examine how theatrical storytelling, embodiment, and improvisation can create safe spaces for emotional exploration in museums.
- Explore the role of museum theatre in addressing trauma, memory, and identity.
- Engage in a practical workshop, where they will experiment with theatre and drama techniques to design museum-based experiences that enhance visitors’ emotional connection to heritage and history.
A core part of the session will be hands-on activities, where participants will work in small groups to develop short theatrical interventions that encourage emotional expression, mindfulness, and active participation. Whether designing programs for specific audiences (e.g., people experiencing grief, social isolation, or anxiety) or general museum visitors, attendees will leave with adaptable, theatre-based strategies to promote emotional wellbeing in cultural spaces.
