French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary, Manda Chan, director of Leisure and Cultural Services of Hong Kong SAR, and Yannick Lintz, president of the Guimet-National Museum of Asian Arts (France) close the Museum Summit 2025 on March 29. PHOTO BY JAN YUMUL/CHINA DAILY

　　The future of museums could see more wellness and sustainable programs integrated into their functionality and platforms as healthy lifestyle and mindful living grow increasingly important in societies amid increasing challenges in security and spaces, Museum Summit 2025 heard in Hong Kong on Saturday.

　　The list of prestigious speakers who flew from different parts of the world from France, the United States, Australia, Qatar, Germany, Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands, to name but a few, were part of the “Museums + Wellness“ sessions held on the second and final day of the Museum Summit conducted at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai.

　　Each speaker was first given minutes to share the challenges and best practices from programs curated from their respective countries and how museums continue to play an integral role in society despite the presence of wars, economic crises, geopolitical tensions and modernization. A short panel was followed after all the experts were done with their presentations.

　　Speakers from Germany, Australia, the US and Anhui in the Chinese mainland shared how they have programs for people with dementia and programs to nurture children's mindfulness of their surroundings. The topic on making art accessible to people with disabilities was also a hot topic.

　　Speakers from Qatar and Turkiye shared how they were looking for ways to preserve as well as design their museums to make them more welcoming to their public.