Owensboro Health is partnering with the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market this Saturday for their annual Food + Art + Health celebration fundraiser. The event will run from 8 a.m. to noon and includes live music, a community art project, performing arts, and local vendors.
OH Director of Community Engagement Debbie Zuerner said the intersection of food, art, and health makes up a lot of different aspects of a successful community.
“When you have a community that’s vibrant in those areas you’re going to have a healthier and more vibrant community, and so this event on Saturday brings that all together,” Zuerner said.
The event, which started in 2016, has been recognized for bringing in people from across the state, all in the name of bettering their health. Through collaborations with the Kentucky Arts Council, they are able to spotlight art in all of its forms.
While the event starts at 8 a.m. they will have several guests popping in under the pavilion. The schedule of performers is:
· 10–10:15 a.m.: Owensboro Dance Theatre
· 10:15–10:30 a.m.: RiverPark Center
· 10:30–10:50 a.m.: Randy Lanham & Friends
· 11–11:15 a.m.: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum
· 11:15–11:45 a.m.: Theatre Workshop of Owensboro
The inspiration for the event came from noticing the importance of food and culture in society and the health benefits that come from it.
One of the staples of the event is the building of the community wall. Zuerner said that attendees handpaint the tiles, which are then assembled and put on display in the lobby of the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
“When you put them all together, it’s really something very beautiful,” Zuerner said. “We hang that mural in our lobby and it’s really the meaning behind it if you think about it — when all of us come together, it’s really something pretty beautiful.”
Zuerner said during the pandemic, people became more cognizant of the benefits of art and food as they clung to them to help with their mental health. The phrase coined by their partner Credible Mind, “It’s okay to not be okay,” helped fuel the momentum behind it all as well.
As the pandemic continued on, OH continued its annual event and tried its best to abide by the restrictions in place. Even then, Zuerner said, you could see the need for art and food for the community.
Now, events such as Saturday’s celebration present a chance for people to be open and comfortable talking about mental health.
“It also empowers people to take [their health] into their own hands,” Zuerner said. “Pick up a new hobby. Try a musical instrument. Try your hands in drawing or painting or writing, or whatever the case may be. We can get engaged with understanding what makes our body healthier.”
