STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
_____
JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2024 AS ARTS
EDUCATION MONTH
WHEREAS, Arts Education Month celebrates and amplifies the innovative work of arts
educators in service of students and families in communities across the State; and
WHEREAS, the State recognizes arts learning, including dance, music, theater, visual arts
and media arts taught by certified arts educators in partnership with community providers as
an essential element and core content of a complete and balanced education for all students;
and
WHEREAS, arts learning includes engagement with literary arts, folk and traditional arts
and service-oriented projects and involves many interdisciplinary connections; and
WHEREAS, arts education provides substantial educational benefits to all elementary,
middle and secondary school students; and
WHEREAS, arts education develops students' creative potential and supports
collaboration, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are essential for
our workforce in the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, arts education has the power to change students' lives; and
WHEREAS, students, families and community members benefit most from arts learning
opportunities that are designed to be accessible to all and to make connections to the lived
experience of students across the State; and
WHEREAS, arts education helps nurture healthy, inclusive communities where all points
of view are respected; and
WHEREAS, while arts learning supports academic growth in a variety of content areas,
each arts discipline has tremendous value as stand-alone academic content; and
WHEREAS, equitable access to arts education opportunities is sustained by a wide range
of partners, including school leadership, educators, families, teaching artists, arts organizations,
local and statewide organizations and government agencies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Legislature now
assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this
opportunity to designate March 2024 as Arts Education Month and to recognize the
professional expertise of arts educators and advocates around the State, invite community
leaders to continue to strengthen and increase access to arts education for every student
regardless of geographic location and give our full support for quality school arts programs for
Maine's youth.
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