National Arts and Humanities Month- October 2024
Adopted at the 92nd Annual Meeting in 2024
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 $1.102 trillion billion industry that supports 5.2 million jobs representing 4.31% of the nation's economy, a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as construction, transportation, and agriculture; and boasts a $21 billion international trade surplus (2022); and
WHEREAS, the overall arts economy grew by 4.8% in inflation adjusted dollars between 2021 and 2022, a rate increase far surpassing that for the entire U.S. economy during the same time period. Since the pre-pandemic year of 2019, arts and cultural industries have surges by 13.6%. By contract, the US economy grew by 5.5% over the same period; and
WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $29.1 billion in government revenue and $151.7 billion in economic activity (2022) annually by organizations and audiences—including spending by attendees to arts events of $38.46 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; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages both mayors to designate the month of October 2024 as National Arts and Humanities Month and encourages the White House to issue a proclamation as well.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges mayors to build partnerships with their local arts agencies and other members of the arts and humanities community in their cities to participate in and celebrate the month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month.