Andrea Plunkett

Andrea Plunkett is the National Gallery of Ireland’s first resident Cultural Art Therapist, current Chair of the Irish Association of Cultural Art Therapists, and a fully trained Art Therapist registered with Irish, UK and European Associations of Art Therapy. Andrea has an MSc in Art Psychotherapy, awarded by Ulster University, with a professional background in Psychology, Social Care and Art. 

At NEMO’s European Museum Conference 2025, Andrea Plunkett will facilitate the workshop "Cultural art therapy" on Tuesday, 28 October.   

Workshop abstract: 

Cultural art therapy 

This workshop is an experiential introduction to the methods used in the National Gallery of Ireland’s groundbreaking Cultural Art Therapy programme, “No Words”.   

“No Words” offers underserved and vulnerable audiences the opportunity to engage in creative therapy in a cultural space, using museum collections as catalyst. Workshop attendees will get the chance to both to learn about, and engage with the process of Cultural Art Therapy, in a format designed to gently promote wellbeing. By introducing the therapeutic framework through which a cultural space may be meaningfully and safely interacted with, the workshop will offer an adaptable model for diverse participants.  

This workshop will be introduced by Brina Casey, Education Manager: Special Projects, and Sinéad Rice, Head of Education & Public Programming at the Gallery, the session will be led by Andrea Plunkett, the Gallery’s first resident Cultural Art Therapist.   

This workshop is organised by the NEMO Working Group LEM - the Learning Museum 

Anders Kühnau
Anders Kühnau

Anna Väänänen 
Anna Väänänen