House of Alijn

By the beginning of 2021, three Ghent museums (i.e. Museum dr. Guislain, Huis van Alijn and Heritage House Sisters of Charity) decided to deepen their expertise on cultural heritage and wellbeing. Under the heading ‘ErfGoedVoelen’ and in collaboration with partners from the healthcare, research and educational sector, they submitted a project proposal to the Flemish Government via the Cultural Heritage Decree, to examine and facilitate wellbeing-oriented cultural heritage interventions. Through four pilot projects, ErfGoedVoelen addressed a different group each time: (1) adolescents receiving support from a psychiatric institution, (2) home-based adults with (young onset) dementia and their informal caregivers, (3) children receiving support from a psychiatric institution, and (4) home-based individuals over-55s experiencing social isolation. During weekly meetings at the museums, several cultural heritage methods (e.g. object handling, object storytelling, creating) were used.
Although the cultural heritage sector is increasingly committed to developing its outreach efforts whereby heritage collections are used to promote wellbeing, little is known about the giving of meaning of and by those involved.
The research report associated with the ErfGoedVoelen project aims to explore the meaning and prerequisites of wellbeing-focused cultural heritage interventions. Using an interpretive research design, it offers valuable insight into the important role these projects can play for both participants and professionals, along with a thorough analysis of the factors and conditions that contribute to their success.