With summer quickly approaching, the question always seems to arise: What are you going to do with your spare time? From swimming pools and barbecues, to parades and fireworks, there’s lots of stuff to fill up the time during summer.

But what if you could enjoy summer while supporting local community members at the same time? Well, you can! Art galleries are a beneficial component of any neighborhood. Check out some of these ways art galleries are important and why you should visit them this summer.

They’re inexpensive (or even free)

They say the best things in life are free… or at least very cheap. Most community art galleries have inexpensive, or even free, admission. If you’re trying to have an engaging summer at a low budget, art galleries and other local museums are a great way to save money while having fun. 

You can learn new things

Let’s face it: there are a lot of better things to do this summer than rewatch your favorite show for the fifth time. Visiting an art gallery can help expand your mind and absorb new information. Whether you’re still in school or have been out for years, it’s never too late to try to learn something new. When you visit an art gallery, you’re engaging in education outside of a classroom setting, which lets you learn about topics that interest you at the perfect pace.

Art can make you happy

Studies have shown that looking at art releases dopamine in the brain, a feel-good chemical associated with feelings like falling in love. At the same time, it decreases our cortisol levels, the stress hormone. This means that visiting an art gallery can literally help you to relax, feel at peace and feel content or even giddy. So when you’re ready to kick back and relax this summer, you don’t always have to go to the pool; the art gallery can be just as enjoyable.

You’ll feel more creative

There’s just something about seeing others’ creative outlets that allows us to release our inhibitions and express our own creativity even more fully. Whether you’re a musician, writer, photographer or an artist yourself, soaking in creative inspiration from an art gallery can give you just the right amount of vision to explore your own creativity. If you don’t particularly think of yourself as a creative person, just the experience of being in a creative environment can encourage you to try new things and strengthen your imagination.

You support small businesses

Visiting local art galleries and museums is a great way to support the small businesses in your community. Many galleries are entirely donation-based, and your donation can go a long way in strengthening their impact. Not only can you support them financially, but your encouragement and promotion with friends and family shares the love of art galleries with others in your life.

They build community

Finally, art teaches us that we are a part of something larger than ourselves. Art galleries often host events for the community that bring us together and help us get to know our neighbors. A mutual love for art and art galleries builds us up and strengthens the community relationally, emotionally and fiscally.

Art galleries are a vital part of the neighborhood, and this summer you can help support them by visiting and encouraging others to go as well. Afterwards, support other small businesses by enjoying your favorite local restaurant, cafe, bookstore or shop. So go ahead, get out there and soak up the beauty of the artistic world around you.