WHEREAS, According to Innovation Philadelphia, the creative industries in the Philadelphia Region generate more than $44 billion annually in revenue and account for 32% of the Philadelphia Region's workforce; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has championed a number of Arts and Humanities firsts including the first art museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts established in 1805, the first art school for women, the Moore College of Art established in 1848, the first tuition free conservatory established in 1928, the first children's museum, the Please Touch Museum established in 1976 and is home to one of the largest museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art founded in 1876; and
WHEREAS, Each year during the month of October, many arts, culture and humanities institutions throughout the City acknowledge, recognize and celebrate this industry through National Arts and Humanities Month; and
WHEREAS, National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of culture in America. It is designed to encourage all Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of active participation in the arts and humanities; and
WHEREAS, National Arts and Humanities Month is the largest annual celebration for the humanities, arts and culture in the nation with a compilation of thousands of activities across 165 cities; and
WHEREAS, Through hosting creative conversations, arts center open houses and better media coverage of the arts, people in every community across the United States of America, including Philadelphia, can celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month by helping recognize the contributions of cultural organizations in their region and enjoy the richness of the arts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize October as National Arts and Humanities Month.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives from Philadelphia's art and culture community as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End