Arts Advocacy Day

Proclamation

By the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, April 6, 2016 is being recognized as Alabama Arts Advocacy Day by thousands of arts and cultural organizations, businesses and communities across our state; and

WHEREAS, the arts enrich and transform lives in our state, playing a unique and intrinsically valuable role in our civic lives by inspiring our minds, feeding our souls, promoting conversation and action, and encouraging innovation which drives the economy and sustains our prosperity; and

WHEREAS, the arts have a profound positive influence on the education of the children in our state by fostering discipline, creativity, imagination, self-expression and problem solving skills, while also helping to develop a heightened appreciation of beauty and cross cultural understanding; and

WHEREAS, the arts are a business magnet for our state, stimulating business activity, attracting companies that want to offer employees and clients a creative climate and a community with high amenity value; and

WHEREAS, the arts attract tourism revenue for our state with cultural travelers who often stay longer and spend more, thereby helping local businesses thrive; and

WHEREAS, the arts help our state prosper in a diversified 21st century economy with nonprofit arts organizations, along with creative enterprises, contributing to state and local economies, generating over $8.7 billion in annual economic activity and $2 billion in household income to residents:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim April 6, 2016, as

Arts Advocacy Day

in the State of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 1^st day of March 2016.

Robert Bentley
Governor