In the news: Only 5% of us engage in arts and culture

The Globe and Mail recently reported on a study that shows we're spending less time on social activities and only about 5% of us engage in arts and culture. Say what?! Since I'm a culture junkie, this is disturbing news to me. I can't tell you how many times that music, books, or art have pulled me out of a slump on those days when it just seems like the world is going down the toilet. I completely rely on artistic release to keep some semblance of balance in my life.

Seriously, arts and culture are available all over your city if you just know where to look for it. Go check out a local gallery (Gallery 101 on Bank St.), buy tickets to a theatre show (GCTC on Wellington), buy a festival pass and see some live music (Bluesfest at Lebreton Flats), check-out the local crafters at the weekend farmers market (Ottawa Farmers Market at Lansdowne), go to art in the park events (check out Kiwi Gardens near Perth).

Here's more from the article:

Visits to parks occur less often...and the window of time for attending plays and concerts is shrinking. Caught between caring for children and elderly parents, stressed by jobs that require weekend and evening work, the average person is more likely to turn to the television or the computer for entertainment than to take a walk in the woods or play pick-up hockey.

In short, the hours Canadian spend refreshing their minds and their bodies through leisure and cultural activities--and moments shared with families--are being condensed and it's affecting their well-being. Those are the findings of the report by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing called Caught in the Time Crunch: Time Use, Leisure and Culture in Canada.