SENATE RESOLUTION 43

(By Senators Carmichael, Kessler, Williams, Prezioso, Stollings, Blair, Boso and Laird)

[Introduced February 22, 2016.]

Designating February 22, 2016, as West Virginia Arts Day.

Whereas, The great State of West Virginia is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and its impact on the rich culture and diverse arts of our state; and

Whereas, The partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History has meant that all fifty-five counties have benefitted from arts programming through federal and state funding; and

Whereas, The arts are the embodiment of all things beautiful and entertaining in the world — the enduring record of human achievement; and

Whereas, The arts enhance every aspect of life in West Virginia—growing our creative economy, enriching our civic life, enhancing tourism and exerting a profound positive influence on the education of our children; and

Whereas, Support for the arts advances, fosters and promotes the traditional and contemporary creativity of our residents through music, theater, literature, dance and fine arts; and

Whereas, Arts education research shows that the arts help to foster discipline, creativity, imagination, self-expression and problem-solving skills while also helping to develop a heightened appreciation of beauty and cross-cultural understanding; and

Whereas, The arts play a unique and intrinsically valuable role in the lives of our families, our communities, and our state; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates February 22, 2016, as West Virginia Arts Day; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate calls upon all citizens to celebrate and promote arts and culture in the Mountain State; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.