WHEREAS, the arts and humanities are the embodiment of all things beautiful and entertaining in the world -- the enduring record of human achievement; and
WHEREAS, the arts and humanities enhance every aspect of life in Illinois -- improving our economy, enriching our civic life, driving tourism, and exerting a profound positive influence on the education of our children; and
WHERAS, the nonprofit arts and cultural sector also strengthens our economy by generating $36.1 billion in annual spending and supporting more than 216,227 full-time-equivalent jobs.
WHEREAS, educational research shows that the arts help to foster discipline, creativity, imagination, self-expression, and problem solving skills while also helping to develop a heightened appreciation of beauty and cross-cultural understanding; and
WHEREAS, we use the humanities - the interpretation and discussion of all forms of thought, interest and expression - to examine what it means to be human; and
WHEREAS, the arts and humanities play a unique and intrinsically valuable role in the lives of our families, our communities, and our state; and
WHEREAS, the month of October has been recognized as National Arts and Humanities Month by thousands of arts and cultural organizations, communities, and states across the country, as well as by the White House and Congress for three decades:
THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as ILLINOIS ARTS & HUMANITIES MONTH and call upon all citizens to explore, celebrate and participate in the arts and culture in the Land of Lincoln.
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