Alberta's museums and historic sites are celebrating Alberta Arts Days this weekend.

The province's history and heritage are on display, and all provincially owned and operated historic sites and museums are free to the public.

The event, in its second year, aims to showcase Alberta's arts communities.

Lindsay Blackett, Alberta's culture and community spirit minister, said the event will cost the province $780,000, but it's money well spent.

"People in tough times need a lift, people in tough times need to know that there's something out there to celebrate," he said.

"We've got a lot of young people who need to know that there's a reason to stay here and people need to know there's a reason to come here."

Blackett said the event is a great way to market the province.

"We want to attract visitors," he said. "We want to attract people so the best and brightest come here to live.

"People who want to move from other countries. … They want to know they don't have to give up their arts and culture from where they are to come here, because we have representatives from almost every country in the world."

More than 560 events are happening across the province during Alberta Arts Days, which wraps up Sunday.