Fitzwilliam Museum: Happy Place - Young Adults, Museums & Wellbeing

Context: The "Happy Place" project addresses the growing mental health concerns among young adults, particularly the rising levels of anxiety and depression in this demographic. The Fitzwilliam Museum has recognized the need to create an inclusive and inviting environment for young adults who often do not perceive museums as relevant to their well-being. Aims: The project seeks to explore how museums can enhance young adults' well-being through participatory research. Specific objectives include understanding young adults’ definitions of well-being, identifying engaging aspects of museum spaces, and discovering which human stories resonate with them. Methods: The approach involved participatory action research, recruiting a diverse group of 49 young adults through community partnerships and open calls. The methodology included focus groups, case study analyses, and creative engagement activities that emphasized mindfulness, empathy, and participation. Findings: The pilot project led to the creation of an immersive space dubbed "Happy Place," where 403 visitors participated over four days. Feedback revealed that all surveyed participants reported improved mood and joy, while the experience was characterized by a sense of calm, creativity, and social connection. Five emerging themes highlighted the importance of comfort, self-expression, mindfulness, sensory experiences, and community building. Implications: The findings suggest that museums can successfully integrate well-being into their programming, moving beyond traditional roles to become spaces that foster joy, creativity, and community connection among young adults. The positive shift in participants' perceptions indicates that through collaborative efforts, museums can enhance their relevance and impact in addressing mental health issues. Other educators and cultural institutions could learn from this study by exploring similar participatory frameworks to engage their communities in meaningful ways.

Keywords (free text)

participatory action research, young adults, well-being, creative engagement, immersive experiences, mental health, museum engagement

Permanent link to cite this item

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14069/997

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Fitzwilliam Museum Research Briefings