Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada has teamed up with group of doctors to help sick people. The doctors will prescribe visits to Montreal's art galleries, instead of giving them medicine. museum is currently taking part in 10 trials on patients to find out what effect art has on health. patients include people with breast cancer, eating disorders, epilepsy and mental health problems. Thomas Bastien, director of education and wellness at museum, believes that art heals. He said: "We saw that museum was good for people, so we decided to start this program with doctors. If you're suffering from breast cancer, you could come to museum and you might feel better."
doctor who has lot of experience in helping to heal people with art spoke about benefits of art therapy. Dr Hélène Boyer said: "There's more and more scientific proof that art therapy is good for your physical health." She said looking at art increases hormones released in our bodies. These hormones are responsible for our well-being. Dr Boyer said visiting art galleries released same kinds of hormones that are released when we exercise. Nathalie Bondil, museum's director-general, said physical activity and art gave similar health benefits. She said: "I am convinced that in 21st century, [art] will be what physical activity was for health in 20th century."
