LOUISE THOMPSON: MINDFUL MUSEUMS

Where are you originally from?

I moved from Belfast to Manchester when I was 18 for university and just loved the city so much that I stayed and made a life here. I’ve now spent more of my life living in Manchester than in Belfast, so I see it as my adopted city. Belfast is very similar to Manchester in many ways. The warmth, friendliness and openness of Mancunians reminded me of Northern Irish people so I kind of felt an affinity when I came to this city. 

What made you choose Manchester in the first place?

I had an older sibling here already so I had been to the city a few times and always liked it as a young person. However, it was more to do with the course I wanted to study. I studied ‘History of Art and Design’ at Manchester Metropolitan University, which at the time was one of the top ten universities for that course. It made sense to go somewhere familiar to do the course I really wanted to do. 

And was it all a positive experience?

Yes! Coming from a city like Belfast, I basically grew up in a civil war zone. When I came here I was so relieved to not have to worry about the threat of violence. It took me about three months to adjust and realise that the situation I grew up in was unusual. At 18 years old I recognised that I was now safe in this city and that was it for me. I wasn’t going back. 

There was always a threat and fear of violence in Northern Ireland but that’s just the way life was. As children you think what you grow up around is normal, you don’t know any better. It wasn’t until I got away from it and looked back on it, that I realised it was a really unusual situation to grow up in and I still live with the effects of that today. 

When you spend your formative years in a country like that it will have an effect on you for a very long time. Those experiences I had growing up have definitely made me better at the job I do today. 

Tell us a bit about your role at Manchester Art Gallery.

I’m the Health and Wellbeing Manager for Manchester Art Gallery which means I manage a programme that uses the gallery’s artwork, spaces and resources to help people improve their mental health through art and creativity. 

For example, we have mental health groups in the city coming here for six week projects where, through participation, their wellbeing is improved. People connect with each other socially and learn new skills and techniques. One of the biggest triggers for poor mental health is stress and mindfulness is one of those key skills that people can learn and practice that has been proven to help.

We’ve developed our ‘Room to Breathe’ on the first floor, specifically for mindful engagement. In the dedicated room we’ve chosen artworks that we think can hold people’s attention. We’ve hung them at a much lower level than we typically do and positioned sofas and armchairs in front of the pieces in the hope that people will spend longer looking at the art, take their time, slow down and be in the moment. We haven’t put descriptions beside the artwork as we don’t want people to rush into the intellectual side of art and instead experience it for themselves. We’re only ever going to put in one or two pieces of art in that space to hold people’s attention better. We wanted a warm, relaxing, womb like space and we’re hoping people will use it when they feel like they need to slow down.

It sounds like the Health and Wellbeing Manager role would be a new position at the Gallery but in fact it’s been around for a while?

Manchester is such a pioneer in so many ways, it always has been. It’s a city of ‘firsts’ and Manchester was one of the first cities to have a Health and Wellbeing Manager in an art gallery. This post first came into the Art Gallery in 2008 and what we find now is that a lot of museums and galleries are just about getting around this type of work. When they find out that Manchester has had one since 2008, it blows their mind! It shows the foresight of Manchester and the City Council knowing how important this role would be and the way culture was going to go. So yes, it’s quite established here in the city but actually outside of Manchester it’s relatively new.

What makes Manchester Art Gallery special?

It’s the people’s gallery, we belong to the city! We are the only art gallery or cultural organisation in this city that is owned by the residents of Manchester. We are at the heart of the city and a wonderful, inclusive place to visit.

How can people get involved with mindfulness at the gallery?

We’re taking part in a research study with Goldsmiths University Department of Psychology around mindful engagement with art and how that reduces stress. Participants will be fitted with a wrist monitor that will read their heart rate and pulse before and after spending time in ‘Room to Breathe’. Hopefully that will give us some data on the impact the space has on people’s mental health. So keep an eye on the Manchester Art Gallery’s website and if you’re interested in being involved in the study, get in touch.

And, finally, can you recommend any good habits for people to help their mental health ?

I’m a great believer in self-compassion and self-understanding and if I could recommend anything, it would be to practice that by being kind and accepting ourselves. 

As we grow up we take in lots of messages, whether they’re direct or subliminal, that we’re not good enough. I think everyone could use a little more self-love and kindness for themselves and others. Actively speaking kindly to ourselves and noticing when we speak in a negative way isn’t a skill innate within us so it’s something we have to practice. 

You can visit @mcrartgallery from Tuesday-Sunday 10am–5pm. ‘Room to Breathe’ is located on the first floor.

Follow Louise at @mindful_museums.

Manchester Stories is an ongoing passion project by Blossom Manchester.

For more information or to get involved email: ruby@blossommanchester.co.uk