Happy National Arts & Humanities Month! Catch up on news and celebrations related to the October campaign, including the first presidential proclamation since the Obama Administration and our first-ever NAHM Ambassador, youth poet Alora Young. Don’t miss the latest in our Member Spotlight series and a new report assessing the state of monuments in the United States. Plus: registration support is available to attend the National Arts Marketing Project Conference, and we’re gearing up to celebrate the best in arts and business partnerships at a virtual gala featuring appearances by Tony Award winners LaChanze and Brian Stokes Mitchell—limited tickets are still available!

ARTSblog

Member Spotlight: Patrick Rath by Linda Lombardi
In October 2020, Patrick Rath became the president & CEO of United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), the largest united fund for the performing arts in the country. UPAF is dedicated to securing community resources and promoting the performing arts as a regional asset in Southeastern Wisconsin.

News Room

Meet Alora Young, Youth Poet Laureate and National Arts & Humanities Month Ambassador
Americans for the Arts is thrilled to collaborate with Alora Young, the 2021 Youth Poet Laureate for the Southern United States, as our 2021 Ambassador for National Arts & Humanities Month. Alora will use her platform throughout the month of October to share her love of the humanities and arts with the public as we celebrate the power of culture in communities across the nation.

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month with Americans for the Arts in October
The arts and humanities have played a critically important role during the COVID-19 pandemic and in amplifying the need for racial equity across the country. National Arts and Humanities Month is the time for communities to come together in unified celebration of the power of the arts to make a difference and change our lives for the better.

Americans for the Arts Honors Businesses and Leaders for Exceptional Commitment to the Arts
Companies and business leaders will be recognized for their exceptional commitment to the arts on October 15, 2021, at a virtual gala. The honorees are: Audible, NMG Network, University of Michigan Credit Union, Underestimated People of Purpose, Universal Orlando Resort, Vestar, PNC + Arts and Education Council, and Kickstarter CEO Aziz Hasan.

White House Releases Proclamation on National Arts & Humanities Month
For the first time since 2016, the White House has released a proclamation declaring October as National Arts & Humanities Month. In the proclamation, President Joe Biden cites the economic, health, educational, and community benefits of the arts and humanities and calls on everyone to celebrate culture during the month.

Request Registration Support for the National Arts Marketing Project Conference
Registration support opportunities are available for arts marketing professionals who are unable to access a paid registration to the 2021 virtual National Arts Marketing Project Conference, taking place December 7-8. The conference is designed to inspire and set the groundwork for arts and culture organizations to survive and thrive in 2022 and beyond.

Monument Lab and Mellon Launch the National Monument Audit
The National Monument Audit focuses on a study set of approximately 50,000 conventional monuments and allows for a better understanding of the dynamics and trends that have shaped our monument landscape, to pose questions about common knowledge about monuments, and to debunk falsehoods and misperceptions within public memory.

Pictured: “All the Power to All the People” by Hank Willis Thomas, courtesy of Mural Arts Philadelphia/Monument Lab. Photo by Steve Weinik.