MUSEUM OF
ADDICTION
&
RECOVERY

A VIRTUAL MUSEUM FOR CELEBRATING THE STORIES, ART AND LIVED experiences OF PEOPLE IN ADDICTION AND ADDICTION RECOVERY.

LATEST EVENTS

LATEST EVENTS

01.23.25

Redemption Through Creation

Venue: Philadelphia, PA

  • The Museum of Addiction and Recovery’s pop-up exhibition, Redemption Through Creation, opened in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties with support from Brandon Novak’s Redemption Addiction Treatment Center. Featuring over 60 artworks by clients of the treatment center, the exhibition showcased the power of creativity to aid in healing in addiction recovery. Each piece reflected personal experiences of struggle, resilience, and transformation. The opening brought together recovering addicts, artists, and supporters to celebrate art as a vital part of the healing process. 


09.01.24

The Madness & Me: Art from the Edges of Addiction

Venue: Togetherland Art Gallery, Ingramport, Nova Scotia

  • The Museum of Addiction and Recovery’s pop-up exhibit at Togetherland Art Gallery, The Madness & Me: Art from the Edges of Addiction, featured compelling works by artists with lived experience of substance use and recovery. Through paintings, mixed media, and photography, the exhibition captured the turbulence, beauty, and resilience of addiction and healing. Many participating artists were from Nova Scotia, offering insight into regional experiences of substance use disorder. By presenting raw, unfiltered narratives, the exhibit sought to foster empathy and understanding while showcasing the profound role of art in personal and collective recovery.

PLEASE
TAKE
CARE

THE EXHIBITIONS HERE CONTAIN IMAGES AND TEXT THAT PORTRAY ADDICTION. EXPERIENCES WITH ADDICTION MAY INCLUDE TRAUMATIC SUBJECT MATTERS SUCH AS DEATH, SEXUAL ABUSE AND VIOLENCE. TAKE SPECIAL CARE IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY IMAGES OF DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. (EXHIBITIONS WITH IMAGES OF NEEDLES WILL BE ADDITIONALLY LABELED.)

OUR MISSION.

The Museum of Addiction and Recovery is a virtual museum which celebrates the stories, art and lived experience of people in addiction or addiction recovery. It seeks to deepen empathy and understanding around substance use disorder (SUD) by showcasing the artwork of individuals in both active addiction and recovery. The museum is dedicated to the collection of addiction materiality and its narrative display both virtually and through temporary physical exhibitions. The museum is also committed to providing resources and treatment information for anyone struggling with SUD.

ABOUT

Our Artists

Our artists and guest curators are individuals who have led rich and deeply meaningful lives that are not defined by addiction but shaped by a multitude of experiences. Addiction is just one part of their story, not the whole. They are human beings with profound creativity and resilience, creating work that fosters understanding in a world increasingly in need of empathy.

At MAR, our work is rooted in a human-centred and ethical approach. We collaborate with artists in all stages of addiction and recovery, recognising that healing takes many forms, whether through abstinence-based or harm reduction pathways. Above all, we prioritise the dignity and well-being of the artists we work with, ensuring that every exhibition we create is not only a platform for artistic expression but also a space of respect and empowerment.

Curator

Danielle Megaffin is a PhD Candidate in the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. Danielle’s museum work focuses on ethical exhibition design in museums. Her work is trauma-informed, people centered and socially engaged. She believes museums should benefit the communities they represent while also advocating for social change.

Danielle is also in recovery from substance use disorder. She has combined her passion for museums and recovery in the world’s first museum dedicated to unbiased & empathetic depictions of addiction. She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada but lives in Leicester, England where she pursues her academic work in museum decolonisation and human rights representation.

Exhibitions

current EXHIBITIONs

upcoming EXHIBITIoNS

past EXHIBITIONS

INCLUSION

MAR firmly rejects the notion that museums are neutral spaces. Instead, we recognise that museums have historically played a role in shaping dominant narratives, often reinforcing systemic inequalities. As an institution committed to social justice, MAR actively engages in activist practices and ongoing advocacy for the rights and dignity of marginalised communities.

Our work is rooted in an unwavering commitment to Transgender rights, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, disability rights, Black Lives Matter, Indigenous sovereignty and land claims, and the broader movement toward decolonisation within museums and other colonial institutions. We acknowledge that these struggles are interconnected and must be addressed through a framework of diversity, intersectionality, and justice.

MAR is dedicated to embedding anti-racist and anti-oppressive principles into every aspect of our decision-making, from curatorial practices to community engagement and institutional partnerships. We strive to create a space that amplifies voices that have been historically silenced, challenges harmful narratives, and fosters meaningful dialogue that leads to lasting change.

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