Museums on prescription: How cultural activities are becoming crucial to the public health debate

On June 18, 2026, European leaders declared culture a strategic priority, recognizing its impact on health and well-being. This marked a shift in how cultural activities are viewed, moving beyond heritage and economic contributions to becoming a vital resource for public health and social cohesion. The European Commission's 2025 report, Culture and Health—Time to Act, emphasizes the need for a health ecosystem to tackle issues like post-pandemic burnout, an aging population, and social isolation.

Pioneering cultural institutions have been at the forefront of this movement. The Museum of Modern Art in New York's Meet Me at MoMA program, launched in 2006, offers guided tours for people with Alzheimer's disease, providing a space for expression and exchange. In 2018, a similar program began in Montreal, Canada, where patients can visit the museum with a "museum on prescription" from their doctor.

The European network Culture Next has published a report highlighting culture's role in fostering care through participation, particularly among young people. This approach moves beyond access to an approach that recognizes young people's roles as creators and organizers. The European Commission's report calls for the development of a health ecosystem to address socio-health issues contributing to a decline in overall health conditions.

Museums are increasingly recognizing their role in promoting well-being. In Belgium, a program allows health professionals to prescribe free museum visits. The Louvre-Lens museum in France has launched a free program, Louvre-Lens-Thérapie, available by medical prescription. This trend is being formalized through training programs, with Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 University offering a diploma in Cultural Prescriptions: Arts and Health.

However, more scientific evidence is needed to validate the effects of these museum-based interventions.