Despite
its relatively small and scattered population, the Marlborough province has a surprisingly
vibrant and vital community. The region has numerous service clubs such as Rotary and the
Lions, churches and religious organisations, operatic and dramatic societies, as well as
thriving sports clubs for all age groups.
Even the smallest communities in the province have public parks and
recreational areas, and many places have a community library and museum. Blenheim is
particularly well-endowed, with a museum, parks, gardens and several art galleries, among
other facilities. Near the centre of town, The Marlborough Centre provides a venue for a
variety of cultural events, including local and visiting theatrical productions.
The people of Marlborough have always been keen on sport and outdoor
activities, encouraged by the warm, sunny climate and varied terrain of the province.
There are numerous sports clubs and a whole range of opportunities for recreational
activities, from sailing or boating in the Marlborough Sounds to climbing Mt
Tapuae-o-Uenuku, playing rugby, cricket and soccer, or swimming in one of the region's
numerous rivers.
Marlborough has had a long association with culture and the arts, and
is home to a number talented artists. The repertory and operatic societies were
established early last century, and continue to flourish and stage regular productions.
Creative Marlborough co-ordinates and promotes the arts in Marlborough, staging summer
schools, courses and arts events.
There is a local arts society that has a gallery near the centre of
Blenheim, and runs regular classes for adults and children. The Millennium Art Gallery
provides an accessible and informative forum for the arts in Marlborough, with two gallery
spaces featuring work by local artists and exhibitions from outside the region.
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