Led by the Illinois Association of Museums and NAMI Illinois, the project joins our state’s museum and mental health communities, harnessing the power of both to reach new audiences in creative ways. Collaboration between these sectors opens the door to marginalized populations disengaged from one of these two domains, allowing audiences from each to experience reflection and support from the other. IAM and NAMI will combine knowledge of humanities engagement and mental health resources to target community-specific mental health issues. Ultimately, this project serves as a collaborative model for the humanities and mental health sectors, laying the groundwork to serve their communities in new and relevant ways.

The project envisions three exhibits running simultaneously for the duration of one month at three partner museums in an urban, rural, and suburban location. Each museum’s chosen format and content is tailored to their needs, capabilities and demographics.

Partner museums will host an exhibit along with either one or more experiences or events focused on a relevant mental health topic. Each will receive a stipend to create their exhibits, along with a physical element, including pallets that can be suited to their own design. They may also elect to host one or more events, discussions and/or activities to engage their audience in verbal and non-verbal forms of reflection or expression.

Each partner represents a unique type of institution. Our model seeks to demonstrate the diversity in location, discipline and population served. We have chosen sites that reflect urban, rural and suburban areas of the state to reflect a wide background and audience pool. We believe the strength between a humanities and mental health sector partnership could pave the way for both museums and mental health organizations to deepen their connections within their own communities and engage new, harder-to-reach participants in each sector.