need ideas for your nahm event?
Celebrating National Arts & Humanities Month couldn’t be easier. Search below for ways you can create an event for your community or participate in NAHM activities individually.
Ideas for Community Events
- Host a Creative Conversation in your community
- Ask local businesses, libraries and schools to host special NAHM events, such as open mic nights, poetry readings or talent shows.
- Suggest that local art venues, such as museums and theatres, give “behind-the-scenes” tours and interviews for families and students.
- Organize a parade, art festival, “battle of the bands,” talent show or art auction that showcases local talent. You can even raffle off local art, literature or tickets at the big event!
- Conduct a series of training workshops for local artists on marketing, portfolio development and publicity.
- Develop and present an award for the outstanding arts organization in your community.
- Create a community photo album. Invite local residents to donate old photographs and take new ones throughout the month.
- Invite local government officials to any events that you plan.
Ways Individuals Can Celebrate
- Attend local arts events like museum exhibits, local plays, festivals or outdoor concerts. If you have kids, make it a family outing!
- Take a class in creative writing, dance, painting or whatever strikes your fancy.
- Perform publically and/or donate your artwork, literature and/or teaching skills to a community center.
- Use your blog or website to post NAHM Web stickers or posts about your favorite art experiences.
- Unveil a new project, product or service during NAHM.
- Make a video about what the arts mean to you and post it on YouTube (and send us the link).
- Enjoy the arts with your family and friends. Sing, play music, read a book, dance or draw together.
- Be an advocate. Write to your Member of Congress, letting him/her how important arts and arts education funding is to you, your family and your community.
- 101 Things to Do to Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month
Learn Some Facts
- Arts Index
Our new website contains two key datasets: The 2012 National Arts Index delivers a 2010 score of the health and vitality of the arts nationwide, while the Local Arts Index allows the vitality of individual communties to be pinpointed. - 2012 Congressional Arts Handbook
Americans for the Arts has compiled detailed briefs on many of the issues arts and arts education advocates will be facing in 2012. Topics include NEA funding, strengthening arts education, and tax reform. - Arts and Economic Prosperity IV
This national study, released at the 2012 Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in June 2012, demonstrates that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in communities–a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism.
Promote Your Event or Activity
- Add your event or activity to the ArtsMeet Calendar
- Place an op-ed piece, letter to the editor, or editorial to your local newspaper
- Graphic Resources for your promotional use
- National Arts and Humanities Month logo is available in JPEG and EPS formats
- National Arts and Humanities Month Web stickers
- Send a press release to your local newspaper
- Obtain an official proclamation of October as National Arts and Humanities Month from your local elected leaders.
Dedicate Your Passion For The Arts - Become an advocate and take action!
- As an advocate, you can use local media outlets to disseminate the facts and your opinions about the importance of the arts in your community. Determine who your local, state, and federal elected representatives are, how to contact them, and how to communicate with them effectively.
Get Answers to Frequently Asked Questions