Americans for the Arts today announced its October celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. During the month-long celebration, Americans for the Arts encourages people to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives.

The organization’s #ShowYourArt2019 social media campaign will highlight personal stories and engage arts advocates on local, state, and national levels. The campaign will feature a unique theme every day in October, and individuals and organizations are encouraged to share images on Instagram (tagging @americans4arts with #ShowYourArt2019). Americans for the Arts will repost favorite images throughout the month.

Americans for the Arts is also hosting three Creative Conversations with awardees of the 2019 Leadership Awards. They include Margie Johnson Reese, recipient of the Selina Roberts Ottum Award, on October 16 at 2:00 PM (EDT); Roberto Bedoya, recipient of the Public Art Network Award, on October 24 at 3:00 PM (EDT); and Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham, recipient of the American Express Emerging Leader Award, on October 30 at 2:00 PM (EDT). Registration is free and can be completed on Americans for the Arts’ Arts U page.

A listing of local events—such as art exhibits, performances, book readings, and festivals—that are part of the month-long celebration, as well as tools and resources to plan events in local communities, can be found on the National Arts and Humanities Month webpage. Join the conversation online using #NAHM to broadcast gatherings, advocacy events, and cultural happenings.

“I hope everyone will take part in National Arts and Humanities Month – an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact the arts bring to our communities, as well as an opportunity to enjoy more art for yourself. Especially in today’s challenged world, the arts allow us to explore ideas, express emotions, and better appreciate cultures from around the world,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

National Arts and Humanities Month was launched by Americans for the Arts 33 years ago as National Arts Week in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. The celebration was recast and reestablished in 1993 by Americans for the Arts and national arts and humanities partners as a month-long celebration, with goals of focusing on the arts and humanities at local, state, and national levels; encouraging individuals and organizations to participate in the arts; allowing governments and businesses to show their support of the arts; and raising public awareness about the role the arts and humanities play in our communities and lives.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.