<i>Room to breathe</i> : Testing the efficacy of mindful breathing and mindful design in enhancing museum experiences

Mindfulness-based activities are increasingly offered in arts institutions, yet little is known about the effectiveness of different interventions. Across two experiments, we examined the impacts of mindful breathing and mindful design on mood and aesthetic experience at Manchester Art Gallery. In Experiment 1, 202 participants viewed two portraits in Room to Breathe, a gallery space designed for mindful art viewing, after watching either a mindful breathing video, an informational video, or no video. Mindful breathing had no significant effect on mood or aesthetic experience. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 in a traditional, non-mindful gallery space, allowing for a direct comparison of mindful breathing and mindful design (N = 261). While mindful breathing again had no impact, mindful design led to increased valence, decreased arousal, higher perceptual engagement, and more time spent viewing. These findings suggest that mindful design, as in Room to Breathe, may enhance aesthetic engagement and well-being.