Art as a Catalyst for Recovery: Combating Alcohol-Related Isolation and Loneliness

“Three years ago, I wouldn’t have even gotten on a bus, let alone walked through the grand halls of the National Portrait Gallery,” recalls one participant, whose journey from isolation to empowerment began with a single visit.

This is just one of the many stories emerging from a unique partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland and Rowan Alba, a charity committed to preventing homelessness through compassion and creativity.

Together, these organisations are harnessing the transformative power of art, not just as a form of personal expression, but as a means of building community, fostering relationships, and supporting mental well-being.

At the Museums, Health & Wellbeing Summit 2024, Meg Faragher and Maro Psyrra from National Galleries of Scotland shared the story.

A Journey of Transformation

The partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland and Rowan Alba began in 2013 with a photography project that was part of a larger knowledge exchange initiative.

This project, which also involved the University of Edinburgh and Serenity Café, a peer recovery café, aimed to explore how alcohol impacts people’s lives and their environment through the lens of photography.

Participants from Rowan Alba, many of whom had lived experience with alcohol-related harm, were given digital cameras to document their daily lives and recovery journeys.

“This gallery is more than just a place to look at pictures. It’s where I found my way back to life.” — Participant

The culmination of this project was an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament, showcasing the powerful images captured by the participants.

The success of this initial project laid the groundwork for a deeper and more sustained collaboration.

Recognising the significant well-being benefits that participants experienced through their engagement with the project, the National Galleries of Scotland and Rowan Alba decided to extend their partnership.

This led to the creation of a permanent, responsive, and creative program designed to support the mental well-being and social networks of Rowan Alba’s service users, many of whom face challenges such as isolation, loneliness, and alcohol-related brain damage.

Building Trust Through Creativity

The cornerstone of this extended partnership is a series of monthly artist-led sessions at the Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. These sessions are designed to be relaxed, non-judgmental spaces where participants can meet their volunteers, socialize, enjoy a simple lunch, and engage in creative activities.

The environment is carefully crafted to be welcoming and supportive, offering participants a chance to explore art forms such as photography, painting, sculpture, writing, and poetry.

One participant, Andy, shared his experience: “Before, I felt like the city wasn’t for people like me. But now, I know I belong here too.” For Andy, attending the artist-led sessions wasn’t just about learning to paint or take photographs; it was about reclaiming a part of his life he thought he had lost forever.

This sense of belonging is a powerful outcome of the program, helping participants to reconnect with their community and themselves.

The gallery itself plays a significant role in this transformation. The Portrait Gallery, with its grand Victorian architecture, soaring ceilings, and walls adorned with Scotland’s most illustrious faces, has become a sanctuary for many who once felt invisible.

Participants have noted that the gallery is free to enter, easy to access by bus, and equipped with facilities that make it comfortable and inviting. The artworks and the environment serve as visual cues for conversation and reflection, providing a stark contrast to the often negative and clinical settings that participants may be more familiar with.

The Gallery as a Sanctuary

For many participants, visiting the Portrait Gallery means leaving their familiar neighborhoods and venturing into the city center, an area they may have previously viewed as being for others—tourists or more affluent individuals. By making the gallery accessible and welcoming, the program helps participants reclaim a sense of belonging to the city in which they live.

“I just love coming here because you’re meeting people that use the car service and that you don’t see for one month to the next. I just think it’s brilliant, and I just love this building because it’s a beautiful building,” shared another participant. For those involved, the gallery represents more than just a place to look at pictures; it’s a place of connection, safety, and rediscovery.

Over time, the trust between the galleries and the participants has deepened, leading to even greater engagement. Many participants have become regular, independent visitors to the gallery, attending public exhibitions and events. Their unique perspectives have also been integrated into the gallery’s exhibitions, with participants contributing to audio guides and co-creating content for exhibitions like Making Space, a 2023 exhibition focused on photographs of architecture.

“Three years ago, I would never have gotten on a bus, never mind walking along Princess Street. I just love coming here.”
— Participant

Expanding Opportunities and Impact

This deepened trust and engagement have also paved the way for new initiatives. The Portrait Gallery now hosts regular networking sessions run by Rowan Alba for health and social care organisations.

These sessions have led to the creation of a new recovery group based at the gallery, a collaboration between the galleries, Rowan Alba, and NHS Lothian. This group, led by an NHS occupational therapist, supports individuals transitioning back into the community after being in rehab.

By introducing participants to the regular CARDS sessions with Rowan Alba, this new group provides ongoing support and engagement, ensuring that participants continue to benefit from the safe, creative environment of the gallery.

The impact of this partnership is perhaps best summed up by the words of one participant: “This gallery is more than just a place to look at pictures. It’s where I found my way back to life.”

Art as a Catalyst for Change

The partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland and Rowan Alba demonstrates the vital role that museums and galleries can play in supporting some of the most excluded and disadvantaged members of society.

By offering a space where participants can explore art, be creative, and connect with others, the galleries are helping individuals manage their health and well-being in a way that is meaningful to them.

This collaboration also highlights the importance of building long-term relationships between arts institutions and social care organizations. By working together, these organisations can create programs that are not only responsive to the needs of participants but also sustainable, offering ongoing support and opportunities for engagement.

As this partnership continues to grow, the hope is that more lives will be touched by the healing power of art. “We’ve come from the point of working with the nurses and having our voices heard in the Scottish Parliament, to now having QR codes where people can look at this exhibition and listen to people from CARDS, speaking to the photographers and having their voices heard and responding to the artworks in the gallery,” said one participant, reflecting on the journey.

If you’re inspired by the stories shared here, consider visiting the Portrait Gallery, supporting Rowan Alba, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can continue to make art a force for good in our communities.

—

Meg Faragher and Maro Psyrra from National Galleries of Scotland spoke at the Museums, Health & Wellbeing Summit 2024.