Attention all Clubwomen Artists!!!
It is time to pull out your colored pencils and paints…. join us in November in Asheville for the GFWC-NC Fall Conference to hear details about an exciting Arts and Culture contest. The prize will be a be a benefit for your community!
October is the National Arts and Humanities Month. This is the largest annual celebration for the arts and humanities across the United States. No matter where you live, how artistic you are… or not… there are many ways you and your club can celebrate this October.
Americans for the Arts, through The National Arts & Humanities Month, focuses on equitable access to the arts; encourages individuals, organizations, and diverse communities to participate in the arts; makes sure governments and businesses are allowed to show their support of the arts; and raises public awareness about how the Arts and Humanities can affect our communities and lives of its citizens.
The National Arts & Humanities Month is the time for communities to come together in unified celebration of the power of the arts to make a difference and change our lives for the better.
The NAHM website lists these Ways to Engage and Promote the Arts:
- Join our 31-day Instagram challenge and encourage others to join, too! Find our daily themes and post along with us all month long using #ShowYourArt2021.
- Ask for a local government proclamation. Your mayor, city council, even your governor can officially declare National Arts & Humanities Month—and our sample proclamation (Word document download) will make it easy. Read our one-page How-to Guide (PDF download) for help making “the ask” to your local government.
- Advocate for the National Endowment for the Arts. The U.S. House has passed $201 million in funding for the NEA in FY22—$33.5M more than last year and the largest budget increase in NEA history. Now it’s up to the Senate to match it, and arts advocates can help spread the word using social media posts and graphics in our advocacy toolkit (Word document download). Don’t forget to contact your own senators and ask for their support!
- Get the word out to the media, even if you’ve never spoken to the press before! Read our tips on working with the media (PDF download) to garner attention for virtual events in your community. Download our press release template (Word document download) and customize it for where you live. Or, get advice on how to write an op-ed or letter to the editor (PDF download) for your local paper.
- Tell the world how the #ArtsCreateHope for you. As we begin to recover from the pandemic and continue the fight for racial equity, the arts are there to support us. During National Arts & Humanities Month, share your story on social media of the arts creating hope in your life using #ArtsCreateHope and #NAHM.
Here are some ways to encourage friends, neighbors, colleagues, and community members to take part in the arts this October!
- Send a press release/media alert to your local news outlets. Use our sample press release (Word document download) to get started.
- Advertise on a local event website or add to a calendar of events in your local newspaper or newsletter.
- Arrange for emails and fliers about National Arts & Humanities Month to be sent to your local community through Chamber of Commerce or Community organizers. Include information about local artists and events.
- Write an op-ed piece, letter to the editor, or editorial for your local newspaper.
- Get artists involved by asking them to reach out to their networks personally or via social media. They can also design posters, bumper stickers, and buttons to promote National Arts & Humanities Month in community gathering spots and on social media (be sure to give the artist proper credit!). You are free to use the National Arts and Humanities Month logo on your materials—download a hi-res JPG or a lo-res JPG of the full logo, or a hi-res JPG of the NAHM star.
- Showcase your event on social media and share with your community. Send reminder emails to friends and co-workers and ask your network to share your posts.
North Carolina has two organizations that support the NAHM. More information is available on their websites.
North Carolina Arts Council ncarts.org
Arts North Carolina artsnc.org
For more information on resource organizations please go to the Arts & Culture link on the GFWC-NC website. There is a wealth of information available to you.
Don’t forget that the GFWC Challenge Project for the Arts & Culture CSP is to host or sponsor a Youth Arts contest during March. Think outside of the “Arts Festival” box and see if your club can come up with fun and challenging art projects for the youth in your area. It doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking…. Check in with your local arts teachers for ideas on what type of art they are teaching…. See if there is an area in the school that could be painted, such as a large rock that they paint birthday wishes on, and whichever class has the most creative rock painting could win. Contest prizes could be art materials given to their class, or a party during class time. Use your imagination and be sure to submit your projects!!!
“Art is Everywhere and Everywhere is Art” ~ Brandon Boyd