Art for Change
Program & Initiative
In our art-based programs, individuals facing mental health challenges can engage in open studio spaces to explore an extensive variety of artistic forms and disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, digital arts, photography, filmmaking, ceramics, sculpture, textile – nature crafts, performing arts, writing and music. We provide the necessary infrastructure and professional guidance from art educators and therapists, introducing techniques and approaches that can be further explored at each participant’s own pace and interest. Our programs welcome participants at all levels, from novice creators to practicing artists, inspiring creativity and building a vibrant artistic community within a mental health care setting. These programs operate within psychiatric hospitals and recovery centers, as well as in independent ateliers. Each Living Museum creates a strong, supportive social community while collectively forming an international network engaged in dynamic exchange.
Approach & Philosophy
We cultivate a culture where empathy serves as our guiding principle, creating an environment where each individual feels recognized, listened to, and esteemed. Our philosophy is marked by impartiality, tolerance, and reverence for all living beings. Our interactions are founded on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. We champion the artistic capabilities of individuals with psychological challenges, affirming the inherent right of all individuals to meaningful engagement, self-determination, and dignity. As an organization, we are committed to organic growth and to building collaboration through inclusive decision-making, open communication, and a dedication to continual improvement.
Goal & Impact
Drawing from extensive experience, we have validated the effectiveness of our concept and philosophy. With a unique approach to developing creativity among individuals living with mental illness, we are leading the way in establishing supportive communities within mental health care. Our initiatives enhance well-being while reducing healthcare costs, stabilizing patients, and minimizing hospital readmissions.
Our approach also alleviates pressure on clinics, outpatient services, and caregivers by providing essential support. By actively reducing risks that can lead to chronic mental health conditions, preventing relapses, and contributing to suicide prevention, we support long-term stability and safety. As a cost-effective solution with a comprehensive range of services, our programs deliver accessible, holistic care that addresses diverse needs.
Research continues to reveal the transformative power of arts-based therapy for mental health. Through ongoing study, we gain insights into how artistic engagement enriches lives, strengthens community bonds, and drives new discoveries in neuroaesthetics.
The Living Museum association supports the spread of the Living Museum philosophy and the growth of new projects. Through lectures, publications, and exhibitions, we engage the public and build an international network of Living Museums worldwide.
Living Museum: The Fourth Revolution in Psychiatry
Hailed as revolutionary at the 2016 WHO Conference in South Korea, the Living Museum leads a new era in mental health care. This Fourth Revolution introduces a holistic therapeutic model, connecting psychiatry and society.
1983 – Dr. Janos Marton Inspires a Movement
The first Living Museum was founded at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, New York, by Dr. Janos Marton, a Hungarian artist and psychologist, and Bolek Greczynski, a Polish artist. Inspired by the belief that artistic creation can profoundly support healing and recovery for individuals with mental illnesses, the Living Museum transformed an abandoned 40,000-square-dining hall into a welcoming oasis for creativity. This marked the beginning of the Living Museum movement as a global social arts initiative.
2002 – Europe Welcomes Its First Living Museum
The Living Museum Wil opened in the Psychiatric Clinic St. Gallen Nord, Switzerland. This facility provides daily art space for up to 150 artists, many of whom are treated on an outpatient basis, fostering a community of care for both residential and non-residential participants. That same year, the Living Museum NY hosted a much-talked-about group exhibition at the Directors Guild of America Theatre.
2005 – ‚beGEHen – beWEGen‘
The Living Museum Wil staged a groundbreaking exhibition, blending art and nature through unconventional interventions.
2006 – ‚Breaking News’ Multimedia Project
Curated by Dr. Nicole Ottiger, the Living Museum Wil presented a dynamic multimedia art project, redefining artistic expression and storytelling.
2008 – Spreading the Vision
Living Museums began to be established in various locations worldwide, including the Netherlands, Switzerland. Initiatives to create new Living Museums continue to grow globally, all while navigating the ongoing challenges of finding suitable spaces and securing funding.
2009 – Collaborative Exhibitions Highlight Outsider Art
The Living Museum participated in the Outsider Art Forum with a group exhibition at Kunsthaus Kannen in Münster, Germany. Additionally, ‚Zwischentöne‘, a unique exhibition in the cattle stable at Psychiatrie St. Gallen in Wil, brought together the artists group ‚ohm 41‘ from Wil, Switzerland.
2010 – ‚CO2 Kunstwäsche‘: A Fusion of Ideas and Art
The Living Museum Wil collaborated with the artists from com&com to present the exhibition ‚CO2 Kunstwäsche‘, showcasing a dynamic interplay of creativity and conceptmaking.
2013 – The Living Museum Society Founded
The Living Museum Society, a non-profit association, was founded in Switzerland. This organization maintains an international network of Living Museums, supporting knowledge exchange, networking, and the growth of the movement globally. The Day center of the foundation Stiftung Heimstätten Wil joined the Living Museum Wil.
2015 - Dr. Janos Marton receives the Dr. Guislain Award
Dr. Janos Marton received the prestigious Dr. Guislain ‚Breaking the Chains of Stigma‘ Award in recognition of his significant efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. This award, named in honor of Dr. Joseph Guislain —a pioneering Belgian psychiatrist and advocate for patient rights in the 19th century —celebrates individuals and organizations making exceptional strides in mental health advocacy. Dr. Guislain, known for his pioneering scientific approach and tireless advocacy, dedicated his life to improving the dignity and social standing of people with mental illness, values that Dr. Marton’s work embodies today.
2016 – Living Museum Concept Honored
At the WHO Conference in Yongin, South Korea, the Living Museum concept was celebrated as a revolutionary model in psychiatry. The same year saw the opening of Living Museums in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and Yong-In, South Korea, adjacent to a large 800-bed hospital, providing a big creative space for the clinic patients.
2017 – Expansion and ‚Transutopia’ Exhibition
The Living Museum Bennebroek opened in the Netherlands, furthering the movement’s presence in Europe. That same year, ‚Transutopia‘, the largest exhibition to date, brought together works from all existing Living Museums at the Gutsbetrieb of Psychiatrie St. Gallen in Wil.
2019 – Cultural Awards and New Locations
Germany’s first Living Museum was established in Buttenhausen as the Living Museum Alb, supported by Bruderhaus Diakonie. It features open studios and rotating exhibitions across multiple art forms, fostering participation and community interaction. Additionally, the Living Museum in Wil, Switzerland, received the Cultural Award from the City of Wil. The Living Museum Tbilisi opened in Georgia and Schaanwald in Lichtenstein.
2020 – Celebrating Nature and Expanding Reach
The Living Museum Alb was honored with a prestigious award from the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity in the special competition ‚Social Nature–Nature for All‘ recognizing it as an exemplary project at the intersection of social engagement and nature. In the same year, the Living Museum Schaanwald opened its doors, marking a further expansion.
2021 – Living Museum Zürich
With generous support and funding from the City of Zurich, the Living Museum Zurich was inaugurated. This new location brought the museum’s unique blend of art and social engagement to the heart of Switzerland’s largest city.
2022 – Honoring Inclusivity
This year marked several exciting expansions and achievements for the Living Museum. It received the Swiss Diversity Award in recognition of its commitment to inclusivity. New sites opened across Europe, including the Living Museum Day Clinic in Potsdam, Germany, the Living Museum in Solothurn, Switzerland, and the Living Museum in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Additionally, the Living Museum Day Clinic in Rorschach, Switzerland, was inaugurated.
2023 – Expanding Healing Spaces
The Living Museum continued its expansion in Switzerland and beyond, opening new locations in Bern and Münsingen, the latter within the Psychiatriezentrum (PZM) Münsingen, which specializes in clinics for depression, psychosis, and geriatric psychiatry. This growth was complemented by an initiative in Madrid, Spain, supported by NextGeneration EU and Red.Es. Together, these new hubs further the Living Museum’s mission to foster a community of care and create collaborative spaces for art and healing.
2024 – Crossing Borders: New Initiatives in France, Bulgaria, and Austria
The Living Museum Alb received further recognition with the Inclusion Award from the Reutlingen county, as well as a special award from the ZukunftsGut prize by the Commerzbank Foundation, honoring its innovative approaches to art mediation and dedication to diversity and inclusion within the cultural sector. This year also saw the opening of multiple new locations, including the Living Museums in Schaffhausen, Lichtensteig, Biel/Bienne, and Gordola in Switzerland, along with the Living Museum Kreuzlingen nestled within the at the Mansio Foundation. Expanding across borders, the Living Museum launched its first location in France in Nantes, as well as Sofia, Bulgaria; and Graz, Austria.