Agenda - 10-18-2022; 4-b - Proclamation Designating October 2022 as Arts and Humanities Month

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2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH — OCTOBER 2022 WHEREAS, the nation's 120,000 nonprofit arts organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the nation's 4,500 local arts agencies in communities across the country, and the arts and humanities councils of the 50 states and the six jurisdictions and districts of the United States annually have issued official proclamations designating October as National Arts and Humanities Month; and WHEREAS, cities and states — through their local and state arts agencies representing 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 much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind, and also enhance and enrich the lives of everyone in America; 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—including nonprofit, commercial and education — is an $877 billion industry that supports 4.6 million jobs representing 4.2% of the nation's economy, a larger share of the GDP than powerhouse sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and utilities (2020); and WHEREAS, the nation's arts and culture sector additionally boasts a $33 billion international trade surplus (2019); and WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts industry of Orange County has generated $12.4 million in local and state government revenue and $130.3 million in economic activity (2015) annually by organizations and audiences—including $36.6 million of spending beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and lodging by arts event attendees — making the arts a vital income source for local businesses; NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina does hereby proclaim October 2022 as Arts and Humanities Month in Orange County and calls upon community members to celebrate and promote the arts and culture throughout the region, state and nation, and to participate in sustaining the vibrancy of the arts and humanities for the betterment of society. This the 18th day of October, 2022. Renee Price, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners