M in the children's hospital

‘Muse and art’

M IN THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

If hospitalised children can’t come to the museum, we bring the museum to them. That’s the idea behind Muse and Art, a collaboration between M and UZ Leuven.

In 2019, UZ Leuven opened a brand-new children’s hospital. At its heart is the Muse Space – a bright, welcoming area dedicated to art. Here, children can relax and explore their creativity. The project is supported by the Art Fund for Children’s Hospital.

The initiative began symbolically with a collaboration with artist Nel Aerts. “She was exhibiting at M at the time and also served as artist-in-residence in the Muse Space. She invited the children to experiment with textile techniques, just as she does in her own artistic practice,” says Charlotte Van Peer, collaborator education at M.

Publiek in de Muzeruimte van het kinderziekenhuis in Leuven — © UZ Leuven

Nel Aerts met publiek in de Muzeruimte van het kinderziekenhuis in Leuven — © UZ Leuven

Vrouw en kind in de Muzeruimte van het kinderziekenhuis in Leuven — © UZ Leuven

De Muzeruimte van het kinderziekenhuis in Leuven — © UZ Leuven

A Mini Museum

M has been a regular partner of the Muse Space ever since. When there are exhibitions at M, we often create a link with the hospital – such as with the recent Dieric Bouts exhibition. “For example, we created a mini exhibition featuring prints of his most important works. The children could explore the display through a series of engaging activities.”

These mini exhibitions also serve as the backdrop for creative workshops. M’s team organizes workshops that children can join at their own pace. “The group is always a mix of ages and profiles. Each child has different needs and expectations. That kind of personalisation is both the biggest challenge and the greatest strength of these workshops.”

Simply Being a Child Again

The key aim is to connect art with the children’s world. “For a workshop based on ‘Collection of M’, we drew inspiration from a significant wooden altarpiece. The facilitator created his own version of the retable and invited the children to decorate it with characters – as if it were a doll’s house.”

The interpretation of the Muse Space continues to evolve. “For example, the music therapy programme at the Lemmens Institute is developing sessions tailored to children, inspired by works in M’s collection. There are so many possibilities, but the goal remains the same: to give children the chance to simply be children again – even if just for a little while.”