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, 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,
WHEREAS, 148 billion dollars in annual economic output is generated by arts and culture, and the sector supports more than 734,269 jobs; and,
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 2026 as Illinois Arts and 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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