On October 10, 2018, Morris County issued a Proclamation recognizing the importance of culture in our society and encouraging 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 the arts and humanities “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, Great Conversations, Giralda Music & Arts Festival, Arts in Education, 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.”
Freeholder Kathryn A. DeFillippo, Freeholder Director Douglas Cabana, Dr. Lynn Siebert – Director of Arts Participation & Communications, Tom Werder – Director of Morris Arts (holding Proclamation); Freeholders Deorah Smith, Heather Darling and Deputy Director Christine Myers (photo by Guy Palmiotto, HUB Camera Club).
Douglas Cabana, Director of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced that October 2018 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.
Members of the Arts and Humanities Community present in support of the Proclamation, L-R: Amy Curry (Executive Director, Morris County Historical Society/Acorn Hall) and her Research Assistant, Joe Garafolo; Cleveland Johnson (Executive Director, Morris Museum); Ed Kirchdoerffer (General Manager, Mayo Performing Arts Center); Guy Palmiotto (HUB Camera Club); Martin Prentice (Morris Arts Board Member); Dr. Anne Matlack (Artistic Director, Harmonium Choral Society); Terry Scullin (Morris Music Men); Tom Werder (Executive Director, Morris Arts); Tara Skirzenski (Board Chair, Morris Arts); Erin Keating (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey) in front of artworks by Bascove.
Freeholder Director Douglas Cabana presented the Proclamation to Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts, on behalf of the larger arts and humanities community in Morris County. Werder highlighted the importance of the arts to the health of the County and its impact as an economic engine for the area. He added “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, bringing us together, rather than dividing us. The vibrant arts and humanities are a key feature that attracts people to live, work and play in Morris County.” During October, Morris Arts will be featuring the numerous cultural and arts events in Morris County on its website cultural calendar at www.morrisarts.org. 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.
To see the official County announcement, click HERE .