Data collection is underway for a two-year arts and health study by Brenau University and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
The university and the museum established a partnership more than 10 years ago to support art and design students, and last year announced a partnership to study how art impacts the health and well-being of adult patrons.
The study examines the social, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual effects of art museum visitation on diverse adult populations, and will conclude in 2027. Atlanta-based arts and health research firm Performance Hypothesis supports protocol and data collection, with Brenau students assisting in the collection process.
“In 2019, the World Health Organization published a report on arts and health, and one of the things they found was that people who visited an art museum, went to a concert, or participated in an artistic activity had a 17% decrease in feelings of isolation,” Professor of Music and co-principal investigator Barbara Steinhaus said.
Participants are offered a wearable device to track vital signs, including heart rate, and take a survey at the end of their visit.
Professor of Art and Design Claudia Wilburn is the other co-principal investigator, working alongside the High’s Julia Forbes, associate director of institutional research, and Andrew Westover. Ph.D., the Eleanor M. Storza deputy director of learning and civic engagement.
“Through quantitative and qualitative tools, this mixed-methods research project will focus on how art engages individual flourishing and well-being,” Westover said. “Further, the study will explore how art museums can create bonds across differences of affinities, experiences, identities and beliefs, to better understand how art museums can help create a stronger civil society.”
More details about the study and the museum can be found on the High Museum’s website. Brenau and the High Museum have partnered for nearly a decade, including an annual student exhibit.