A few days ago, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (AMTh) completed an innovative program of art workshops for people diagnosed with mental illness or secondary mental health problems: a visual arts workshop and a dance workshop, specially designed by the museum.

The two AMTH workshops began in September 2025 and were completed in mid-February 2026, in the new “Educational Programs and Creative Workshops for All” hall. They were implemented under the guidance of four artists and the supervision of four mental health professionals, with the participation of 46 individuals who were referred by two mental health agencies and selected based on eligibility criteria.

In the art workshop, hands-on engagement with art forms such as painting, engraving, weaving, mosaics, etc. supported emotional expression, interaction, and the strengthening of self-confidence, contributing to the elimination of negative psychological burdens. In the dance workshop, participants, guided by dance teachers, followed movements and exercises to strengthen motor and emotional expression and release muscle and mental tension. At the same time, through the workshops, the beneficiaries got to know selected museum exhibits, connected them with themes such as clothing, nutrition, writing, grooming, nature, the human body, and ancient arts, and drew creative inspiration from them.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Dance workshop

Melachrini Hatzis, Department of Communication, Education, Development & Sponsorships, AMTH

Niki Triantafyllidou, dance teacher

Ouranía Poulíou, dance teacher

Agathi Siopi, psychologist

Maria Papadimitriou, psychologist

Collaborating mental health organization: Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (Alzheimer Hellas)

Visual arts workshop

Chrysanthi Fotiadou, visual artist, Department of Digital Applications and Innovative Services, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, design of visual arts workshops and supervision

Filippos Gkoutzos, visual artist

Efthimia Skylitsi, visual artist

Andreas Kotsiafitis, psychiatrist

Maria Tsagkari, psychiatrist

Collaborating mental health institution: Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital/EPSYKA.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI

Anastasia Gadolou, General Director of AMTH

Angeliki Koukoubou, Head of Publications and Digital Applications

Evanthia Papadopoulou, Head of Digital Applications and Innovative Services

Thomas Liolios, Head of Administration, Finance, and Technical Support

Dimitra Seretidou, Head of Financial Management

The impressions of the beneficiaries showed that the preventive and supportive action of art in improving mental health is immediate and has multiple benefits, highlighting the value of systematically integrating cultural prescription actions into cultural institutions. The aim of the AMTH is to capitalise on the experience gained by its staff in the context of Cultural Prescription and, in response to the request of many beneficiaries, to organise corresponding workshops with visual arts activities that connect ancient culture with contemporary artistic creation, in an environment free of exclusion and discrimination.