Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month in October
by Jaclyn Reynolds

The Ohio Arts Council joins hundreds of arts organizations and communities around the nation in celebrating National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) in October. NAHM has been celebrated since 1993 and provides a great reminder for people to participate in the arts offered in their communities.

“National Arts and Humanities Month is a great way to celebrate and explore the arts here in Ohio,” said OAC Executive Director Julie Henahan. “The arts give us a way to express ourselves and better appreciate cultures from all over the world.”

The commitment to the arts here in Ohio is evidenced by the recent increase in funding to the Ohio Arts Council from the Ohio Legislature. A little arts funding goes a long way because the arts, as an industry, deliver tremendous impact from a comparatively small investment. Less than one twentieth of one percent of Ohio’s state budget is allocated for the arts, yet it delivers a generous impact to the state’s economy. Each public dollar invested generates more than $45 in matching funds from the private sector.

There are a number of ways Ohioans can explore the arts as part of National Arts and Humanities Month. Citizens can visit ArtsinOhio.com to find out what’s happening in their community. ArtsinOhio.com denotes activities during October by featuring the NAHM logo with the event.

The Ohio Arts Council is encouraging arts organizations to schedule events in coordination with NAHM and also use ArtsinOhio.com to promote them. Organizations can register online for free and post their events to the Web site.

National Arts and Humanities Month is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people.

For more information or for suggestions of ways to celebrate the arts, visit the OAC Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us www.oac.state.oh.us.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

[top]