The practice-based paper, Art on Prescription in Greece: Museum-Based Art Psychotherapy at EMΣT, reflects on the museum's involvement in the national initiative between 2024 and 2026. The programme links healthcare services with structured arts and cultural activities, enabling healthcare professionals to refer people with psychosocial needs to cultural programmes as part of their care.
At EMΣT, participants took part in twelve-week cycles of museum-based group art psychotherapy, combining encounters with artworks, creative activities and facilitated reflection. The programme was delivered jointly by professionals with expertise in both mental health and museum education.
According to the publication, preliminary findings suggest that participants experienced increased confidence, reduced feelings of isolation and stronger social connections. The museum environment was also identified as a non-stigmatising space that supported self-expression and engagement.
The paper highlights how collaboration between the cultural and healthcare sectors can contribute to wellbeing and explores the potential role of museums within broader social prescribing initiatives.
NEMO’s work on wellbeing
Wellbeing, resilience and care have become increasingly important areas of work for NEMO and the European museum sector. In recent years, NEMO has highlighted the role museums can play in supporting mental health, social cohesion and community wellbeing through research, publications, conferences and advocacy.
This focus was especially prominent in 2025 when NEMO's annual priory was set on care, wellbeing and resilience in the museum sector. The 2025 NEMO European Museum Conference “Who cares? Museums, wellbeing, and resilience” addressed museums’ responsibilities for care and wellbeing head‑on. As NEMO’s Secretary General Julia Pagel highlighted in a 2025 special conference episode of The Art Engager Podcast, wellbeing and resilience have been recurring priorities across the network - warranting a “central moment” to bring projects, ideas and open questions together. The 2025 conference gathered 328 participants from 37 countries, culminating in the NEMO Executive Board’s Statement on Museums, mental health and wellbeing, published on 29 October 2025, which underlines museums’ urgent role in promoting mental health and social cohesion across Europe.
