Being Present with Art: Mindful and Interactive Engagement with Art Lowers Stress While Increasing Attention and Belonging

Being Present with Art, or BPWA, is a method of integrating mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), with art. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BPWA method features tools and exercises for participants to first become present to their bodies to then focus their attention on artwork and connect with others. A research study examining the impact of the BPWA method on stress, attention and sense of belonging, or connection, showed that participants self-reported lower stress levels, increased attention, and a greater sense of belonging after each session. Additionally, participants continued to self-report less stress a month after completing the four-week-long BPWA curriculum. The BPWA method offers one way for museums to engage visitors who are processing grief, alienation, and loneliness experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the study shows that museum pedagogy, especially when paired with mindfulness, has a positive impact on well-being.