- Culture and well-being hand in hand
- Turku 2011 -programme projects arranged based on the well-being theme (in Finnish, pdf file, 7,5 kb)
- Ministry of Education and Culture: Art and Culture for Well-being - proposal for an action programme 2010 - 2014 (pdf)
Doctors to prescribe tickets for cultural events
The doctors within the City of Turku Municipal Social Services and Health Care Department will during 2011 distribute nearly 5,500 cultural prescriptions to European Capital of Culture year events.The City of Turku Board of Health Care and Social Services made the decision on 27th October.
The cultural prescriptions available through doctors’ appointments in Turku health centres entitle free admission to certain main events during the Capital of Culture year.
- There is no doubt that culture has a positive effect on well-being. This is why the city health stations are a natural channel for distributing cultural tickets to those who really need them, says Juhani Leppä, Chairman of the Board (National Coalition Party).
Top officials for the City of Turku also rejoiced the board’s positive decision.
- The introduction of cultural prescriptions is a creative way of combining residents’ well-being and culture, both of which are important focus areas for Turku, describes Maija Kyttä, Deputy Mayor for Services.
The cultural prescription is a voucher
Cultural prescriptions will be distributed through nine Turku health stations in connection with normal doctor’s appointments. The doctors will hand out prescriptions at the end of the appointment and, if necessary, discuss the events that could suit the patient the best.
In practice, the cultural prescription is a voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket at the 2011 Corner, the Capital of Culture information office located in central Turku.
- With the ruling, the Board of Health Care and Social Services made a wonderful, broadminded decision. We are happy to take part in such cooperation, after all, the slogan for the Turku Capital of Culture year is “Culture does good”, rejoices Cay Sevón, CEO for the Turku 2011 Foundation responsible for preparing the Capital of Culture year.
50 events without any cost
The cultural prescriptions will be covered by the ticket quota reserved for the Turku 2011 Foundation. Therefore, the cultural prescriptions will not cost anything to the City of Turku Municipal Social Services and Health Care Department. In addition to the cultural prescriptions, Turku 2011 Foundation ticket quota is used for providing media coverage and for VIP guests.
Free tickets will be available for approximately 50 Capital of Culture year events. These include
- the Cirque Dracula circus performance
- Children’s Opera Turku 3011
- all Logomo exhibitions
- the 2011 Battle performance at the Paavo Nurmi Stadium and
- the Karamazov Brothers theatre performance directed by Kristian Smeds
Further information
- Board of Health meeting minutes (in Finnish)
Blogs
Turku 2011 magazine
