The Museum as an Agent of Community Health

Museums are increasingly positioning themselves as key spaces for promoting community health and well-being through participatory programs. In Catalonia (Spain), these practices are widely dispersed across the territory and lack systematic evaluation by museums. This article examines the role of social participation in community health projects and its impact on the local community through a case study of the Cuid’Art at the Museum program at the Garrotxa Museum. Using a qualitative approach based on participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group, the study analyzes the meaning and relevance of the museum within its community through the uses, interpretations, and behaviors that shape the program. The results demonstrate a reduction in participants’ feelings of loneliness, improvements in their social networks and social skills, and a strengthening of their sense of identity and belonging to the city. Participation takes the form of a strategic alliance with local professionals. This positions the museum as a community health agent committed to the needs of its community and as a more democratic, accessible, and inclusive space of social care.