Nemours Estate’s Bold Approach to Accessibility for Hospital Families

How can cultural spaces meaningfully support healthcare audiences? What does true accessibility look like when serving families navigating hospital care? At Nemours Estate, these questions are at the heart of their work. Through thoughtful initiatives and innovative programming, the estate team has created a seamless connection between cultural heritage and healthcare, offering respite, healing, and inspiration to patients, families, and hospital staff alike.

This article explores how Nemours Estate, situated next to Nemours Children’s Hospital Delaware, has become a unique model for collaboration between cultural spaces and healthcare providers. With insights from Annie Thomas-Bubel, Learning Programmes Coordinator, and Ken Darsney, Manager of Gardens and Grounds, we’ll discover how intentional design, creative programming, and community partnerships are transforming access to cultural spaces.

A Vision Rooted in Care and Connection

Established by philanthropist Alfred I. DuPont, Nemours Estate was designed as a place of beauty and tranquillity. Today, the estate team works tirelessly to honour that vision by integrating their spaces into the care journey of hospital patients and families. From the thoughtful placement of flowering trees visible from hospital windows to therapeutic garden visits, every detail is approached with intention.

One key initiative highlighted was the creation of a direct pathway from the hospital to the estate gardens. This simple yet powerful change ensures that patients, families, and hospital staff can access green spaces easily, offering a much-needed respite from clinical environments.

Programmes with Purpose

Nemours Estate runs a range of tailored programmes that cater specifically to hospital audiences. Thomas-Bubel described art workshops held within the hospital, where children explore identity and expression through creative activities. One memorable story featured a child painting a portrait of her pet hermit crab, drawing inspiration from a historic dog portrait displayed at the estate.

For those unable to physically visit the estate, the team launched The Wren’s Nest, a virtual TV channel streaming nature footage, calming water features, and educational content directly into hospital rooms. This initiative ensures that even the most vulnerable patients can experience the estate’s calming beauty.

Holistic Wellbeing in Action

Ken Darsney shared how the estate gardens have been utilised for physical and mental health initiatives. From hosting Day of Remembrance ceremonies for families who have lost loved ones to supporting the hospital’s Weight Management Programme with garden-based activities, every project demonstrates a profound understanding of the therapeutic potential of cultural and natural spaces.

In the Can Grow Garden, hospital patients and staff grow fresh vegetables, with produce shared freely within the hospital community. Initiatives like this foster a sense of agency, education, and connection to nature.

Collaboration as a Cornerstone

Thomas-Bubel and Darsney emphasised the importance of collaboration in making these initiatives a success. Partnerships with hospital clinicians, social workers, and volunteer teams have been essential in aligning estate activities with healthcare goals. External contractors and community partners have also shown exceptional enthusiasm in supporting projects that bridge cultural and healthcare spaces.

Lessons for the Museum Sector

The work undertaken by Nemours Estate serves as a compelling case study for cultural institutions worldwide. It demonstrates that accessibility is not merely about removing physical barriers but about meeting audiences where they are—emotionally, physically, and mentally.

For museum professionals, Nemours Estate’s initiatives highlight the transformative power of cultural spaces in supporting health and wellbeing. Whether through tailored programmes, virtual experiences, or collaborative partnerships, museums have a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

As the presentation concluded, Thomas-Bubel and Darsney left attendees with an invitation to reflect: Who is our space for, and how can we meet them where they are?

The answer, as Nemours Estate shows, might just lie in the intersection of culture, care, and creativity.

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Annie Thomas-Bubel and Ken Darsney from Nemours Estate spoke at the Museums, Health & Well-Being Summit.