Art Therapy at the Horniman Museum

Our Friends and the Horniman write

On Wednesday afternoons (2.30 – 4pm) between Wednesday 15^th April and Wednesday 17^th June 2026 the Horniman Museum and Gardens is running an Art Psychotherapy programme using museum objects for people living with social isolation and/or mental ill health at the Horniman Museum.

There will be a group of up to 8 people. You will make art and handle museum objects to explore your thoughts and feelings. You can share these in the group if you would like to. No experience or expertise in art is needed. We ask that you do your best to attend all the sessions so that you can make the most of the experience.

What?

• Art making with dry materials (such as pencils and paper but also wire and fabric scraps)
• Choosing and handling objects in the Horniman’s handling collection based on your personal connection to them
• Showing your artwork and talking about the object you chose and the artwork you made with the group (if you would like to)
• Seeing what other people in the group have chosen and made, to understand different points of view and other possibilities for expressing ourselves
• Getting to know other members of the group to connect with others and understand different ways of seeing things

Who?

• For adults (must be 18+) who are able to access the Horniman Museum independently (see Access below)
• For anyone whose health and wellbeing may benefit from being part of a group where we explore and share feelings using artmaking and museum objects
• For people who can attend on the dates below. This is important for us all to form a strong group and make the most of the programme.
• People with a basic understanding of spoken English welcome
• Suitable for people living with lower-risk mental health conditions such as low mood, anxiety or depression who can access activities independently.
• Not suitable for people with serious mental health conditions or very high support needs
• Not a drop-in for groups – but we can arrange separate group visits to do similar activities.

Where?

Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ.

The meeting point for sessions is outside the Hands On Base (see images 1 and 5 below), just inside the main museum entrance. Most sessions will be held in Hands On Base.

Please see more information on this handy leaflet