Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Culture Days with events around Huntsville

 

There’s a distinct connection between creativity and well-being, so it’s no surprise that the national theme for the 10th annual Culture Days celebration is Creativity, the Arts, and Well-being.

“We’ve seen a lot of discussion about how arts and culture are proven to improve wellness in people, whether it’s psychological or even physical wellness,” says Teri Souter, the Town of Huntsville’s Manager of Arts, Culture and Heritage. “In the UK, doctors are prescribing trips to the museum for people who may have depression or other mental health concerns. It’s a way of getting people out of themselves and connected to their community and therefore to one another, which then helps to improve quality of life and wellness.”

It’s one of the reasons the Town of Huntsville got involved in Culture Days celebrations nine years ago.

It’s also “an incentive to get people to celebrate and participate in culture and make it accessible for everybody by being free,” adds Souter.

Each year, there are a variety of activities to participate in, many of them in Huntsville’s downtown core. Some for this year are already listed on the Culture Days website, with more being added week by week.

Saving Turtles At Risk Today (START) will be bringing live turtles and information about the six different species of turtles that are at risk in the Muskoka area and what people can do to help them.

Algonquin Outfitters will be hosting a live event for its second paddle art contest and auction. Proceeds from the auction go to charity, including the Town of Huntsville reserve fund for future acquisition of public art.

There will once again be artists in the windows of many of the businesses on Main Street, creating new works for all to see.

Over at the Canada Summit Centre there will be free public swimming and skating. On Friday, September 27, all are invited to view the Muskoka Arts and Crafts exhibit, as well as the sports memorabilia displays in the building. Bring your favourite piece of art with you and, between 2-3 p.m., join Souter to share how it adds to your own creativity and well-being.

And there will be free access to the Muskoka Museum at Muskoka Heritage Place. The current featured exhibit is Healthy Huntsville, which showcases the history of healthcare in this town, right from its earliest days as a village. The exhibit is a collaboration between Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary, and the museum. “It’s very informative, it’s educational, and it is only available for a limited time so I hope people will avail themselves of that opportunity,” says Souter.

If you or your group are interested in providing an activity during Culture Days, you have until September 16 to register. If you have questions or would like help with the registration process, contact Teri Souter at teri.souter@huntsville.ca or (705) 789-1751 ext 2357.

Check culturedays.ca for all of the activities on offer that weekend—more will be added as information becomes available—and head to downtown Huntsville between September 27-29 to get your culture on!

This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser.