(WHITE TWP.) – The Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders are urging residents to take some time to appreciate the arts, as they proclaimed October as Arts and Humanities Month.
“We all need to take a moment and spend more time enjoying the arts. I think there’s a great feeling that can come from doing that,” said Freeholder Director John DiMaio.
October has been designated National Arts and Humanities Month by President George W. Bush, DiMaio noted, and citizens nationwide are “urged to participate in the fun and enrichment of programs offered by local museums, galleries, schools and theaters.”
DiMaio added that the arts and humanities “affect every aspect of life in America today, including the economy, social problem solving, job creation, education, creativity and community enhancement.”
Freeholder Richard D. Gardner said cultural activities are “absolutely essential” to Warren County, as they help to broaden the horizons of people who live here. “The public really appreciates the arts and humanities, and engages the opportunity to visit various museums and places of culture,” Gardner remarked.
Gardner noted that Warren Hills Regional High School, of which he is a graduate, just renovated an area for the arts, adding, “It’s going to be really terrific for young folks.”
Freeholder Everett A. Chamberlain said literature, music and art are the foundation of our culture. “By recognizing this and supporting it brings great enjoyment to our civilization,” Chamberlain said, adding, “I think it’s an important part of life.”
Accepting the proclamation was Sally Shutler, clerk to the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Commission, who noted that the arts “provide an opportunity for self-expression. Arts are the most powerful tool of communication that we have as humans.” |
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Sally Shutler (second from left), clerk of the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Commission, accepts a proclamation declaring October to be Arts and Humanities Month from Warren County Freeholder Director John DiMaio, and Freeholders Richard D. Gardner and Everett A. Chamberlain.
The commission is located at the county’s Shippen Manor Museum in Oxford, which was built in the mid-1700s as the home for the family that operated the Oxford Furnace ironworks.
Shutler noted the Cultural and Heritage Commission has a number of events planned, including an annual photography show that will be in the hallway gallery at the county’s Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building in White Township. |
WHEREAS, the Arts and Humanities affect every aspect of life in America today including the economy, social problem solving, job creation, education, creativity and community enhancement; and
WHEREAS, a coalition of 42 National Arts and Humanities organizations representing over 23,000 cultural organizations have formed the National Cultural Alliance to develop a multi-year public awareness campaign on the availability and importance of the humanities and arts to all Americans; and
WHEREAS, these 23,000 cultural organizations and many thousands of other cultural organizations as well as the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the nation’s 5,800 local arts agencies, the State Humanities Councils and the State Arts Agencies of the fifty states and U.S. jurisdictions and the President of the United States will be encouraged to participate in this celebration and in the public awareness campaign; and |
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WHEREAS, the month of October has been designated by President George W. Bush as National Arts and Humanities Month, all residents of Warren County are urged to participate in the fun and enrichment of the programs offered by their local museums, galleries, schools and theaters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders that National Arts and Humanities Month be officially celebrated and commemorated in Warren County during the month of October, 2008.
John DiMaio, Director
Richard D. Gardner, Deputy Director
Everett A. Chamberlain, Freeholder |