Gong Baths in Art & Cultural Spaces
A unique experience for your visitors. A lasting impression for your venue.
Gong Baths are a special kind of event: calm, elegant, and unforgettable.
They enliven the senses, making a museum visit or cultural experience more enriching and complete
From leading museums like Fondation Beyeler to art festivals and symphony halls, Gong Baths have proven their value as a fresh, meaningful addition to cultural programming.
What Is a Gong Bath?
A Gong Bath is an hour-long musical meditation.
People lie down, close their eyes, and let the sound wash over them.
It’s not a concert. Not a performance.
It’s an experience. The perfect moment to pause and reconnect.
Afterwards, many visitors report experiencing art and architecture in a new, more open way — with greater sensitivity and presence.
Alan Steinborn’s Gong Baths: A Musical Meditative Artwork
Alan Steinborn is an internationally known gong artist and meditation guide. Each Gong Bath he creates is a carefully composed, improvised piece — crafted for the space, the intention, and the people present.
These sessions incorporate:
- Subtle tones and overtones
- Refreshing improvised statements
- Long, deep tones that open up space
His main influences include Eliane Radigue, Terry Riley, Classical Indian Music, and Arvo Pärt. His playing has been described as vision-inducing — visually compared to the works of Rothko, Max Ernst, and Gerhard Richter.
Ideal Settings:
- Museums
- Art Festivals
- Symphony Halls
- Convention Centers
- Other Cultural Spaces
Wherever people come together to experience art and beauty, a Gong Bath can add something quietly powerful.
Why Add a Gong Bath to Your Program
By offering a Gong Bath, you give your audience:
- A timeless experience that resonates with diverse visitors resonates with diverse visitors
- An unexpected and memorable way to engage with your space
- A natural connection between sound, silence, and art
“After the Gong Bath, I perceived the art with more than just my eyes and brain.”
— Ruxandra, Museum Visitor
Example: The Gongs at Fondation Beyeler
On December 21, 2023, Fondation Beyeler hosted a Gong Bath for the Winter Solstice. Even though it was just two days before Christmas, the event sold out. The event organizer called it “one of the most popular events of the year.”
One visitor described it this way:
_”When I think of a Rothko painting I see balance and depth. Monet? I feel vibrancy and spatial imprecision. Cezanne guides me through layered dimensions and Van Gogh evokes deep emotion and a profound connection to nature and the human experience. I have had similar experiences lying blissfully still at Alan Steinborn’s gong baths.
It was especially beautiful to experience all of these on the same day. I had the pleasure of joining a special gong bath at the Fondation Beyeler in December 2023. Before the gong bath I wandered through the amazing gallery contemplating human genius and creativity while finding stillness in landscapes, colors, and shadow. I then went to the event room and melted down on my mat.
The experience was vibrant yet balanced, deep yet spatially expansive, multi-dimensional, emotional, and most definitely profound. I can’t speak for the others in the room that night, but I felt connected to them all as the vibrations faded into the silence of a cold winter night.”
— Adam
A Reliable Collaboration
“As an organizer of concerts and other cultural events, I have found Alan to be a very pleasant project partner. The collaboration is smooth and his personality, musicality, and professionalism make his gong baths a great success with us.”