Measuring the impact of museum activities on well-being: developing the Museum Well-being Measures Toolkit

Abstract

The Museum Well-being Measures Toolkit was developed and trialled over 12 months by university researchers and museum professionals from partner museums. The project to develop a museum-focused measure to evaluate the well-being benefits of museum and gallery events and activities was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The need for a suitable measure was determined through AHRC-funded workshops and research that reviewed quantitative measures, including clinical scales, and qualitative methods for assessing the impact of museum activities on aspects of health and well-being. Thirty-two specialist museums participated by providing advice and expertise gathered using surveys and interviews, and by trialling prototype measures over four phases. Prior to completion, partners provided further feedback resulting in the finished toolkit, now available to download as a free online resource with information about the research background, instructions for use and advice on data analysis.

Keywords:

• evaluation
• health
• measures
• outreach
• prototype
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr. Linda J. Thomson is Senior Research Associate in the Department of Public and Cultural Engagement at University College London and a cognitive psychologist specialising in quantitative research methods, memory and learning. She takes a particular interest in creative thought processes and the role that vision and touch play in enhancing health and well-being.

Dr. Helen J. Chatterjee is Senior Lecturer in Biology in the School of Life and Medical Sciences, and Head of Research and Teaching at University College London. Her research interests include the role of cultural engagement in health and well-being, and the pedagogical value of touch and museum object handling. She co-authored Museums, Health and Well-being published by Ashgate.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council [award: AH/J008524/1; PI H. Chatterjee].