Mayor Designates October

Arts and Humanities Month in Honolulu

 (September 25, 2009) -- The City and County of Honolulu will join thousands of arts organizations and communities across the nation in recognizing National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) throughout October.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann will issue a proclamation recognizing NAHM on Saturday, September 26, during the performance of Huliau 2009 at the Hawaii Theatre, which begins at 7:30 p.m.  Mayor Hannemann is a guest artist at the hula show.

The proclamation, which will invite Honolulu’s residents and visitors to celebrate and be engaged in the arts and culture by visiting a museum, art gallery, or historic site, will be presented to representatives of the arts community.

“Arts and Humanities Month gives us all a chance to support our local artists, performers and arts institutions, and to reflect upon the often overlooked economic, educational, and quality of life values the arts provide us,” said Mayor Mufi Hannemann.  “Honolulu is abounding with world-class talent and cultural offerings we should all take pride in.  With this proclamation, I encourage everyone to embrace the arts and make it an activity to enjoy and share with family and friends.”

NAHM is a nation-wide collective celebration of culture in America.  Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, it is the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation.  Hannemann has also championed the arts through his work as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment, and Sports.  He was successful in including arts and tourism in the USCM’s 10-Point Action Plan for America.

NAHM is also a time to remind organizations of the City’s Adopt-a-Sculpture program.  The program is an opportunity for organizations to express their civic pride by being actively involved in the preservation of public art.  There are more than 80 public monuments and sculptures available for adoption throughout Oahu.  For more information, call the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, at 768-6622. 

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Contact:

Dymian Racoma, 768-5288