Art Institute of Chicago Integrates Mindfulness into Museum Experience
In the summer of 2024, the Art Institute of Chicago introduced a mindfulness-oriented method for museum interpretation, merging live events with a digital audio tour. Marielle Epstein, the Assistant Director of Interpretation, initiated the Mindful Looking program, which encourages visitors to engage with a single artwork for 45 minutes to an hour through guided meditation, writing, and facilitated discussions. The inaugural session drew over 40 participants and fostered a consistent community. Epstein utilized these live gatherings to experiment with prompts for an accompanying audio tour available on the museum's free mobile app and Bloomberg Connects. Pádraig Ó Tuama, host of Poetry Unbound, was commissioned to develop unique audio segments and co-led a sold-out Mindful Looking session within 36 hours, attracting attendees from the Midwest. The audio tour and live program are intended to be separate yet complementary, with the audio tour providing lasting, individual access. Epstein showcased this initiative at the Museums & Wellness Summit 2026.
Key facts
- Marielle Epstein is Assistant Director of Interpretation at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Mindful Looking launched in summer 2024 as a monthly in-gallery program.
- Sessions last 45 minutes to an hour and include facilitated discussion, writing, and guided meditation.
- Over 40 people attended the first session; a community of regulars has formed.
- The audio tour is being developed for the Art Institute's free mobile app and Bloomberg Connects.
- Poet Pádraig Ó Tuama created custom audio stops for the tour.
- Ó Tuama co-facilitated a Mindful Looking session that sold out within 36 hours.
- Epstein presented the work at the Museums & Wellness Summit 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Pádraig Ó Tuama
Institutions
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Bloomberg Connects
- MuseumNext
Locations
- Chicago
- United States