Power of Culture Blog
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Happy Arts & Humanities Month, Massachusetts!
Bethann Steiner, Deputy Director, Policy & Public Affairs
Here in Massachusetts, a proclamation from the Governor is an official ceremonial document recognizing a specific day, week, month, cause, or historic anniversary in the Commonwealth. Proclamations help raise public awareness, educate residents, and celebrate the people, ideas, and achievements that contribute to the life of our state.
This October, we are proud to announce that Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll have issued a proclamation officially recognizing October 2026 as Arts and Humanities Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, joining communities across the country in celebrating the essential role of the arts and humanities in our lives and communities.
National Arts and Humanities Month was established in 1993 under President Bill Clinton. More than three decades later, its message remains as relevant as ever, and the Commonwealth’s proclamation offers a powerful statement about the value of arts, creativity, culture, and humanities to Massachusetts.
Among our favorite lines from the proclamation:
“…the arts and humanities enrich the lives of Massachusetts residents, strengthen communities, preserve and share our diverse histories and traditions, and help us understand one another and the world around us;”
“…the arts and humanities are essential to a thriving democracy, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, empathy, civic participation, and meaningful connections across differences;”
“…the arts and humanities are valuable partners in addressing complex challenges and advancing shared goals, bringing imagination, creative problem-solving, research, storytelling, and new perspectives to collaborations across sectors;”
“…creativity is a driver of innovation, providing an in-demand skill for employers across all industries, and strategic partnerships among artists, cultural organizations, businesses, educators, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and government can create new opportunities for economic growth, education, community development, and public wellbeing, while strengthening the cultural sector and the broader Commonwealth;”
“…the Commonwealth recognizes that the creative economy is an important component of Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness and that continued collaboration across sectors can help unlock new opportunities for artists, cultural organizations, and cultural workers;”
The proclamation also recognizes the role of Mass Cultural Council, the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, in advancing the power of culture across Massachusetts:
“…the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, the Mass Cultural Council, works with artists, communities, and organizations to advance the power of culture across Massachusetts and to strengthen the cultural sector through investment, partnerships, and advocacy;”
And it concludes with a call for residents across the Commonwealth to participate fittingly in Arts and Humanities Month:
“…the Commonwealth of Massachusetts joins communities across the nation in recognizing the essential role of the arts and humanities in building a more creative, connected, and prosperous future;”
We wholeheartedly agree.
Arts and humanities are not simply something to celebrate for one month. They are part of what makes Massachusetts special, shaping our communities, strengthening our economy, connecting us to our history and to one another, and helping us imagine what comes next.
This October, we invite residents across the Commonwealth to participate in Arts and Humanities Month in whatever way is meaningful to them: visit a museum, attend a performance, support a local artist, explore a historic site or a cultural district, read a book, listen to music, create something, share a story, or discover something new in your own community.
Mass Cultural Council thanks Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll for recognizing and celebrating the contributions of the Commonwealth’s cultural sector, as well as the state Legislature, Mass Humanities, MassArt, and MASSCreative for their steadfast partnership in advancing the Power of Culture.
Happy Arts and Humanities Month, Massachusetts!