Development, implementation and evaluation of Altered States of Consciousness: an immersive art exhibition designed to increase public awareness of psychotic experiences
S. Riches, Rich Maskey, Patrick Dishman, Jonny Benjamin Mbe, R. Waddingham, Charlie Tebrook, Eve Mundy, Phoebe Roberts, H. Fisher
Arts and Health May 4, 2019 DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2018.1443948 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Visitors to an immersive art exhibition |
| Intervention | video installation |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key points | The immersive art installation enhanced visitors' subjective understanding of voice hearing and increased compassion without being unduly stressful. |
Abstract
Background The arts can increase public awareness of mental health. Stigma about psychosis remains high despite common occurrences of psychotic experiences in the general population (e.g. hearing voices, seeing visions, and other unusual sensory experiences). Targeted approaches may therefore benefit stigma reduction. This project aimed to produce an immersive art installation that increased public understanding of psychotic experiences.Methods Development stages included workshops with people with lived experience, training actors to perform “voices”, sourcing artworks, and producing a voice hearing simulation and video installation.Results The exhibition was implemented as intended, gained positive visitor feedback (N = 150), felt immersive, enhanced subjective understanding of voice hearing, increased compassion and was not unduly stressful. A production team meeting (N = 10) identified exhibition strengths, challenges, and potential modifications.Conclusions This successful, large-scale pilot of an immersive art exhibition combined creative, academic, and experiential perspectives. It enabled visitors to “hear voices” and increased their understanding of psychotic experiences.