(Brendan Kelly/ Montreal Gazette) — The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts announced Thursday that physicians who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada will be able to send patients on visits to the MMFA, allowing patients, accompanied by caregivers or family members, to enjoy the health benefits of a free trip to see some art.
The museum says this is the first such initiative in the world.
It will be used to deal with a wide variety of physical and mental-health problems.
“I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century,” said MMFA director general Nathalie Bondil.
“Cultural experiences will benefit health and wellness, just as engaging in sports contributes to fitness. Skeptics would do well to recall that just 100 years ago, sports were believed to distort the body and threaten women’s fertility. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA.” (…)