Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring October 2026, as Arts and Humanities Month
end
Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Frances Bevington, Chair of the Rockville Cultural Arts Commission.
Discussion
October is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM), a collective recognition of the importance of culture in America. NAHM was launched by Americans for the Arts more than 30 years ago as National Arts Week in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1993, it was reestablished by Americans for the Arts and national arts partners as a month-long celebration, with goals of:
FOCUSING on equitable access to the arts at local, state, and national levels;
ENCOURAGING individuals, organizations, and diverse communities to participate in the arts;
ALLOWING governments and businesses to show their support for the arts; and
RAISING public awareness about the arts and humanities' positive impact on our communities and lives.
The arts are a national asset and should be available everywhere to everyone-and while a majority of the public, based on public opinion polling and other research, believes this, it’s often not their default way of thinking about the arts. National Arts & Humanities Month is an opportunity for everyone to help change public perception and promote the crucial role of the arts and humanities in promoting individual well-being, addressing trauma, connecting cultures, highlighting inequities, and making our communities healthier and more robust.
The City of Rockville’s Cultural Arts Commission promotes and enhances the Arts and Humanities throughout the City. The Commission recommends to the Mayor and Council appropriate programs, activities, and policies to further develop Rockville as a cultural center. Rockville offers residents and visitors various amenities like the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, the historic Glenview Mansion, and the Art in Public Places program. Residents and visitors also benefit from other quality arts and humanities organizations in Rockville.
Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate in what has become the country’s largest annual collective celebration of the Arts and Humanities. Here are a few ways you can celebrate.
• Read a book.
• Dance to the music you love.
• Put your child’s artwork on the refrigerator.
• Take an art lesson.
• Watch a theatrical production.
• Snap your picture with a piece of Rockville Public Art.
• Explore a local art gallery.
• Sing in the car.
• Advocate for the arts.
• Buy art from a local artist.
• Participate in the National Arts & Humanities Month #ShowYourArt Instagram campaign.
Boards and Commissions Review
The Cultural Arts Commission recommends that the Mayor and Council declare October as National Arts and Humanities Month.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.