October 2022: Arts and Humanities Month

WHEREAS, the nation's 120,000 nonprofit arts organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the nation's 4,500 local arts agencies in communities across the country, and the arts and humanities councils of the 50 states and the six U.S. jurisdictions and districts have regularly issued official proclamations on an annual basis designating October as National Arts and Humanities Month; and,

WHEREAS, cities and states-through their local and state arts agencies, which represent thousands of cultural organizations-have celebrated the value and importance of culture in the lives of Americans and the health of thriving communities during National Arts and Humanities Month for nearly 30 years; and,

WHEREAS, the humanities help diverse communities across the United States explore their history and culture with the support and partnership of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the 50 state and six jurisdiction and district humanities councils, and local educational and cultural institutions; and,

WHEREAS, the arts and humanities embody so of much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind; and,

WHEREAS, the arts and humanities enhance and enrich the lives of everyone in America; and,

WHEREAS, the arts and humanities play a unique role in the lives of our families, our communities, and our country; and,

WHEREAS, despite significant losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, the creative industries remain among the most vital sectors of the American economy - providing new opportunities for developing cities, creating jobs and economic activity within their own industry and across sectors, and making communities attractive to business development; and,

WHEREAS, the nation's arts and culture sector-nonprofit, commercial, education-is an $877 billion industry that supports 4.6 million jobs representing 4.2% of the nation's economy, a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and utilities (2020); and boasts a $33 billion international trade surplus (2019); and,

WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $27.5 billion in government revenue and $166.3 billion in economic activity (2015) annually by organizations and audiences-including spending by attendees to arts events of $31.47 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and lodging, making the arts a vital income source for local businesses;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October as National Arts and Humanities Month in Michigan and call upon our community members to celebrate and promote the arts and culture in our nation, and to specifically encourage greater participation by said community members in taking action for the arts and humanities in their towns and cities.