The Museum as a Safe Place: A conversation on wellbeing, creativity, experimentation and the right to make mistakes

Museums are increasingly being recognized as spaces where art can contribute to mental health and wellbeing. This is also reflected in the concept of the “museum on prescription,” adopted in several countries, where doctors recommend museum visits as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness.

The discussion moderators, Marija Jurkić Flis (Museum of Arts and Crafts) and Senka Gavranov from kultura natura pARTicip (KNP), invite us to reflect on the role of museums as spaces of wellbeing. In this informal conversation, we will explore the potential role of museums as safe spaces that nurture the wellbeing of both visitors and employees, while creating room for work, creativity, and experimentation without fear of failure. We will also discuss workplace stress and burnout, the pressures of perfectionism, and why the right to make mistakes is an essential prerequisite for authentic professional development. Rather than viewing mistakes as failures, they can be valuable sources of learning and an integral part of complex working processes.