City of Dubuque Celebrates October as National Arts and Humanities Month

CONTACT:
Jenni Petersen-Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
563.690.6059, jbrant@cityofdubuque.org

October 1, 2020 -- For Immediate Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The City of Dubuque joins thousands of arts organizations and communities across the nation to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month throughout October. The Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the City’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission and local arts and culture institutions, will carry this message to the people of Dubuque throughout the month with outreach that seeks to raise awareness of the impact local arts and culture offerings have on the quality of life throughout our community.

"Now more than ever, a thriving arts and culture community is critical to the overall quality of life in our community and in need of investment and support," said Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol. "It's an important part of our community's well-being, for individuals' brain health, and for our overall economic recovery -- as well as a crucial part of our efforts to attract and retain the workforce our region needs to grow and prosper."

During the October 5, 2020 regular meeting of the Dubuque City Council, a formal proclamation is anticipated recognizing October as Arts and Humanities Month in the City of Dubuque. The community at-large is encouraged to participate in what has become the country’s largest annual collective celebration of the arts and humanities by following the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs Facebook page and sharing their own stories of how arts and culture experiences impact them and their family.

“The arts are the lifeblood of our communities, raising morale, creating community cohesion, and providing comfort during dark times, while also delivering a huge economic footprint. The sector continues to suffer devastating losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is vital that we support our creative workers and fight for the sector in the months and years to come,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts and national coordinator of Arts and Humanities Month. “National Arts and Humanities Month gives us a chance to celebrate the values that the arts impart in our lives, and it is more important than ever that everyone take part to recognize the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities in our communities.”

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. This month-long celebration grew out of National Arts Week, which was started in 1985 by the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts.

More information about National Arts and Humanities Month is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/nahm.

For more information on City of Dubuque arts and culture programs, funding opportunities, and the Arts and Culture Master Plan visit www.cityofdubuque.org/artsandculture or contact City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jenni Petersen-Brant at jbrant@cityofdubuque.org or 563.690.6059.