Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives is Enhancing Mental Health Through Art

Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives is Enhancing Mental Health Through Art

Why Visiting Museums and Art Galleries Is Good for Your Health

Did you know that doctors have discovered a unique way to boost mental health during challenging times? In response to the stress brought on by the COVID -19 pandemic, doctors in Brussels and other places, such as Montréal, have been prescribing visits to art galleries and museums as a form of therapy. Forbes Magazine highlighted this intriguing approach to mental well-being in 2021, and it has been gaining popularity ever since. Visiting an art gallery or museum isn't just an escape from reality; it's a step towards improving your mental health and well-being— who knew?

Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA), located in the historic downtown of Brampton, has embraced this notion wholeheartedly. Take a staycation adventure and visit the many exciting exhibitions they have on—it’s good for your health!

PAMA stands as a massive testament to art, history, and culture, with over 8,000 sqft of state-of-the-art exhibition galleries housed in and around four historic buildings, some dating back to 1867—truly the largest artifacts in PAMA's collection.

This fall, visit In Her Garden: Amanda McCavour and Jannick Deslauriers, a two-in-one exhibition of immersive art installations. One is a botanical garden, and the other is a dystopian world. Experience the past, present and future of our planet, coursing from bliss to an abyss. The exhibition opens on September 30 and runs until February 20, 2024. If you are looking to take your experience to the next level, book one of the upcoming workshops with the artists by keeping an eye on PAMA’s event calendar. There are monthly events, activities and workshops for all ages!

Following along with the theme of bliss to abyss, Paradise Lost is the title of a new outdoor exhibition being unveiled on September 27 by artistic Niagara region-based duo Dillon Douglas and Chris Louis.

If you are looking for a way to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day, consider visiting Generations Lost: Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools, open until October 1, 2023, a wonderful way to learn and grow on this important day. This exhibition is followed up by a fantastic photography exhibition by Toronto’s Photo Laureate Nadya Kwandibens entitled The Red Chair Sessions The Red Chair Sessions is an ongoing open-call portraiture series that places importance on the acknowledgement and reclamation of Indigenous lands and the revitalization of Indigenous languages. This series ultimately disrupts colonial narratives, centres Indigenous Peoples who have been here since time immemorial and reminds us that we are all guests on Indigenous land.

Yours to Discover: Sights/Sites of Peel Region is a new permanent art exhibition showcasing artworks from PAMA’s art collection that span over 100 years.

That’s not even all that PAMA has to offer! Visit pama.peelregion.ca or follow them on social @visitpama to find out more, or visit them on-site at 9 Wellington Street East in downtown Brampton.