What does a trauma-informed museum look like?

Manchester Art Gallery (MAG) has been exploring this question for the last year in a project supported by the Baring Foundation.

Working with the Greater Manchester Rape Crisis Centre (GMRC) – South Asian Women’s Group, the Back on Track charity, and a network of trauma professionals from across Greater Manchester, the team, led by Health & Wellbeing Manager, Louise Thompson, identified community needs and adapted the gallery’s offerings accordingly.

Key principles of a trauma-informed approach that emerged from the project include: safety, choice, trust, collaboration, empowerment and cultural consideration.

MAG have put together a web resource with various resources, including:

• a short video explaining their project
• case studies
• useful resources for museums.

In September, GEM (Group for Education in Museums) and Manchester Art Gallery organised a sharing day for museum education and learning professionals, reported in a blog by GEM’s Katya Provornaya. She describes the Gallery’s Room to Breathe.

“Dim lighting, paintings hung lower than usual, and welcoming sofas and armchairs in place of traditional benches invite visitors to slow down and experience the art in a more relaxed way, fostering a sense of freedom and enhancing the feeling of safety for everyone entering the space.”

Read Katya’s blog.

Explore the Gallery’s web resource.