TALLAHASSEE, FL – Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood is pleased to announce the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, together with the Florida Humanities Council, will join hundreds of arts organizations and communities across the nation to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month throughout the month of October.

“The Department of State is pleased to partner with the Florida Humanities Council to promote this national public awareness campaign and to educate our state’s citizens about the importance of the arts and humanities,” said Secretary Hood. “These programs enhance Florida’s communities by fostering partnerships with other community-based organizations, providing opportunities for youth and families, and strengthening the state’s economy.”

Since 1993, events during National Arts and Humanities Month have encouraged millions of Americans to renew or begin a lifelong habit of active participation in the arts and humanities. The Division of Cultural Affairs carries this message to the people of Florida daily through its activities and programs, which honor the efforts of artists, historians, and cultural groups.

National Arts and Humanities Month is a time for arts organizations across America to highlight and discuss the cultural life in their communities and the role of the arts in educating our nation’s children.

The month long celebration is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, a national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts to people everywhere. For more information visit: www.artsusa.org.

The Division of Cultural Affairs is the state arts agency of Florida which guides and facilitates cultural development and services for Florida's citizens and visitors through public/private partnerships. The Division is committed to bringing more art and culture, to more people, in more places in Florida. To learn more about the Division, and to download a free public awareness poster about Arts and Humanities Month, please visit the Division of Cultural Affairs’ website at www.Florida-Arts.org and click on “news.”

The Florida Humanities Council strives through the humanities including history, literature, philosophy, and anthropology, to provide Floridians with the tools they need to understand the past, engage in the present, and shape our future. For more information about the Florida Humanities Council visit: www.flahum.org.