Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, invites all Americans to celebrate October as National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM). Towns and communities across the country are hosting special events that capture the spirit that the arts and humanities bring to everyday life.

 

“We are honoring two significant anniversaries this year—the 30th anniversary of National Arts and Humanities Month, and the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. I congratulate the NEA for supporting arts and artists for 50 years, awarding grants that have enhanced the lives of millions,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The arts allow us to explore ideas, express emotions, and better appreciate cultures from around the world. National Arts and Humanities Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the positive impact the arts bring to our communities.” 

 

To kick off NAHM, Americans for the Arts is debuting the first-ever DIY Community Visioning Forum. It is a toolkit designed for people—both inside and outside the arts—to gather and think about how the arts can help make healthier, more vibrant, and more equitable communities over time. Over the course of three hours, participating groups can explore what role the arts can play in pursuing the vision of that idealized community, and how individuals, arts institutions, and support organizations can help to achieve that vision. 

 

The DIY toolkit is a key element of Americans for the Arts’ New Community Visions Initiative, which examines the future of local arts in America and the role of community-based arts that enable organizations, funders, cultural institutions, and artists to shape healthier communities over time. 

 

More information about local events that are part of NAHM can be found on the Americans for the Arts’ NAHM web page. Participate in the NAHM Instagram campaign with the tags #ShowYourArt and @Americans4Arts, and share your own art, art that you like, and art events you attend in October to help showcase the vibrant and varied art happening across the country. Americans for the Arts will be showcasing favorite entries throughout October. 

 

National Arts & Humanities Month was launched by Americans for the Arts 30 years ago as National Arts Week in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. The celebration was recast and reestablished in 1993 by Americans for the Arts and national arts partners as a month-long celebration, with goals of focusing on the arts at local, state, and national levels; to encourage individuals and organizations to participate in the arts; to allow governments and businesses to show their support of the arts; and to raise public awareness about the role the arts and humanities play in our communities and lives. Learn more at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/NAHM. 

 

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.