Museums as Therapeutic Spaces: Exploring the Potential of Museotherapy in India

Abstract: This study examines the therapeutic potential of museums in India, investigating how cultural institutions can address mental health challenges through five therapeutic modalities: music, art, poetry, spiritual, and nature-based interventions.

A qualitative secondary research design was employed, synthesising international scholarship, institutional reports, and documented case studies to provide a comparative analysis of global practices and emerging Indian initiatives.

Findings demonstrate significant capacity to reduce stress, enhance mindfulness, foster creativity, and promote social inclusion. Indian museums, such as the Indian Music Experience (Bengaluru), the Indian Museum (Kolkata), National Museum (New Delhi), the Assam State Museum, and the Inner Peace Museum (Hyderabad), etc., exemplify nascent therapeutic programming. However, systemic barriers, including insufficient funding, shortage of trained facilitators, policy fragmentation, and mental health stigma, impede scalable implementation.

The study relies on secondary data and documented case studies rather than primary empirical research. Future investigations should employ mixed-methods approaches, including clinical assessments and longitudinal outcome measurements.

The research provides a framework for integrating therapeutic programming into museum practice, offering culturally grounded strategies for Indian institutions to enhance public health contributions.

This study addresses a critical gap in Indian museology literature by theorising museums as therapeutic landscapes and proposing evidence-based recommendations for mainstreaming museotherapy within cultural and health policy frameworks.