MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Freeholders issued a Proclamation urging citizens to “explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong participation in the arts.” The Proclamation notes that the “arts and humanities embody much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect and imagination of humankind and allow us to explore ideas, express emotions and better appreciate cultures from around the world…” adding “beauty and balance to our lives…” and “contribute to a strong and healthy economic climate by stimulating economic activity and creating jobs.”
The Proclamation further recognizes Morris Arts’s efforts toward that goal “by developing, supporting and advocating on behalf of artists, arts organizations, and arts experiences through programming such as First Night Morris County, Music Beyond Borders, 3rd Saturdays at Morris View, Meet Me in Morristown, exhibits at the Atrium Gallery and Gallery at 14 Maple, Arts in Education programs and artist residencies, Pumpkin Illumination, the Gateway Totem Project, and many others,” and it calls attention to “Morris County’s diverse cultural community [which] offers a wide range of music, theater, dance, visual arts, and is blessed with an abundance of outstanding arts organizations, historical sites, museums and other cultural venues – which make life in Morris County so vibrant, stimulating and inspiring….”
Kathryn A. DeFillippo, Director of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced that October 2016 would be Arts and Humanities Month in Morris County, “to raise public awareness and of the many fine arts and cultural organizations that call Morris County home, and I ask all county residents to promote, support, and participate in the arts and cultural opportunities that Morris County has to offer.”
Representatives from Morris County’s arts and cultural community gathered in support of the Proclamation which also coordinates with National Arts and Humanities Month, a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America organized every October by the national organization, Americans for the Arts, and comprising the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. From arts open houses to governmental proclamations, curtain speeches and special events, communities across the United States join together this month to recognize and celebrate the importance of the arts and culture in our daily lives.
Freeholder Director Katheryn A. DeFillippo presented the Proclamation to Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts, on behalf of the larger arts and humanities community in
Morris County and she noted the importance of the arts, citing her own personal appreciation of the Atrium Gallery exhibits in the freeholder’s workplace and the enormous impact the arts have in our area, making it a cultural mecca for the region. “I am honored to receive this proclamation on behalf of Morris County’s vibrant arts and humanities community. In today’s world, the arts are more important than ever, enabling us to build communities and to attract people to live, work and play in Morris County,” said Werder.
During October, Morris Arts will be featuring the numerous cultural and arts events in Morris County on its website cultural calendar by clicking here. Additionally, Morris Arts has made the Proclamation available for arts and cultural organizations to read or post in order to highlight the month and educate patrons about the arts in our communities.
Morris Arts, located in Morristown, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 dedicated to building community through the arts. Using the arts to inspire, connect and engage, Morris Arts serves as a resource for Morris County with a special focus on arts programming in the community and schools, arts advocacy, and support of the Morris Area community of artists and arts organizations.
