Cultural Prescriptions in Finland

NATIONAL POST
February 24, 2011

Nuns Chapel - Turku Castle

FINLAND -- Inside a 12th-century castle, in the Nun’s Chapel, wooden religious sculptures flickered before the brick walls, lit only by candlelight. Dark, cold and eerie, there is no doubt spirits live in the Turku Castle, the largest medieval castle in Finland. For all of 2011, the city of Turku will be one big exhibit, with art events ranging from wrestling matches in concert halls to church bell symphonies by the river. If you happen get sick while visiting Turku, the medical clinics are handing out “cultural prescriptions,” that is, free tickets to see some art, to cheer you up. As Dr. Kaj Haapasalo says: “Depression or chronic pain is signs that you are in need of culture.” A hundred doctors each get roughly 50 cultural prescriptions to help cure depression, fatigue and all around thirst for some serious culture. But what if a patient overdoses on culture? “There’s no such thing as too much culture,” says Dr. Haapasalo. [link]