Presidential Documents

80361 

Federal Register 

Vol. 89, No. 192 

Thursday, October 3, 2024 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10821 of September 30, 2024 

National Arts and Humanities Month, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

The arts and humanities bring people together and show us that we have 

more in common than we have differences—helping us see each other, 

understand one another, and unite in common cause. Our artists and scholars 

embody the very spirit of America: the drive to create and connect, the 

pursuit of excellence, and the boldness to be truthtellers and change seekers. 

During National Arts and Humanities Month, we celebrate the artists and 

scholars who lift us up, speak to our souls, and shape who we are as 

a Nation. 

We are a great Nation, largely because of the power of the arts and humanities, 

which is stamped into the DNA of America. My Administration is committed 

to continuing the longstanding tradition of supporting the arts and humanities—including promoting freedom of expression as a part of a healthy 

democracy—and has worked to ensure people across the Nation have access 

to the connection and economic opportunities they provide. During the 

COVID–19 pandemic, when local venues like theaters and concert halls 

were struggling to stay open, we offered a lifeline of over $1 billion in 

funding. In 2022, I also signed an Executive Order to advance the cultural 

vitality of our country and ensure that access to the arts and humanities 

is within reach of every American. That included re-establishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and appointing 

the First Lady as an honorary chair and Lady Gaga and Bruce Cohen as 

co-chairs. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently 

celebrated the 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and 

Library Service, our Nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries 

that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. The National 

Endowment for the Arts (NEA) also launched ArtsHere, a $10 million grant 

pilot program expected to announce nearly 100 awards for projects by local 

arts organizations working in underserved communities. And this year, the 

NEA—alongside policy experts at the White House, the Second Gentleman, 

and more—convened artists to demonstrate how the arts and humanities 

are critical infrastructure to our own well-being and the health of our democracy. 

I believe deeply in the power of the arts and humanities to tell the story 

of our Nation and help guide our path toward a better Union. That is 

why the First Lady and I have hosted countless events that brought artists 

and performers here to the White House—from movie screenings and poetry 

readings to musical performances and a Juneteenth concert on the South 

Lawn. We have also honored a number of incredible artists and scholars 

by awarding the National Humanities Medals and National Medals of Arts 

and by hosting the Kennedy Center Honorees at the White House. These 

events and honors are a reminder of the value the arts and humanities 

bring to our lives and our Nation. 

Our Administration is working with artists and scholars to ensure that 

hate has no safe harbor in America. As a part of our United We Stand 

Summit, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) launched a 

joint initiative with the NEA called Connecting Through Culture to leverage 


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80362 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

the arts and humanities against hate-motivated violence, promote civic engagement, and encourage cross-cultural understanding. Building on the work 

of United We Stand, the PCAH, NEH, NEA, and IMLS also launched the 

Artists for Understanding initiative to bring together a diverse community 

of artists and humanitarians in the fight against hate. And the NEH has 

worked to support humanities and research programs that capture the good, 

bad, and truth of our Nation. From helping to document the oral histories 

of survivors and descendants of the Federal Indian Boarding School era 

to investing in programs that help protect and preserve America’s Black 

history through Historically Black Colleges and Universities and supporting 

cultural institutions in the Pacific Islands, we show our commitment to 

understanding and learning from our past so that we can work together 

to build a better future. 

Our Nation’s artists, librarians, scholars, and museum professionals make 

us feel our humanity, reminding us of all that is possible when we come 

together. This month, may we celebrate American artists and scholars, who 

will always hold a special place in the soul of our Nation. And may we 

recommit to supporting the arts and humanities, which make us a stronger 

and more prosperous Nation. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as 

National Arts and Humanities Month. I call on the people of the United 

States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 

celebrations. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day 

of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-ninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22985 

Filed 10–2–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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