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The Arts|Learning Networking and Advocacy Division is dedicated to providing information, resources and programming that will help you advocate for the arts in your community, whether it be across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or in any other state or region of the United States.

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The Massachusetts State Senate passed a resolution on March 9th congratulating A|L's Advocacy Division (formerly MAEC) in celebrating March as "Arts Education Month" in Massachusetts.  Governor Deval Patrick made  a proclamation declaring March as "Arts Education Month."

To see an actual copy of Governor Patrick's proclamation, please click here.

Congratulations to Genevieve Klim of the Boston Ballet for encouraging the Boston City Council to also pass a resolution proclaiming Youth Arts Month in Boston.  Our thanks to Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo for sponsoring the resolution.

Here is the text of the MA Senate resolution:

The Massachusetts State Senate Resolutions

Congratulating the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative on its celebration of the Month of March as Arts Education Month.

Whereas, the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative has been a leader in promoting the development of critical skills through artistic training and will celebrate the Month of March as Arts Education Month to publicize its goals for the twenty-first century; and

Whereas, teaching the arts, which includes dance, music, theatre, visual arts, literary arts and media, is essential to a basic education and has been designated as 1 of 6 core subjects in the Federal No child Left Behind Bill and the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993; and

Whereas, arts education stimulates, develops and refines many cognitive and artistic skills and fosters creativity, self-expression and artistic literacy; and

Whereas, arts education provides students with the ability to develop self-discipline, cross-cultural understanding, artistic expression, teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills required for success in school, college and the workforce; and

Whereas, Massachusets arts educators, artists and arts community professionals have always been committed to developing and maintaining a comprehensive and sequential arts curriculum that is consistent with the highest local, state, and national standards; and

Whereas, in celebrating the month of March as Arts Education Month, the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative calls upon arts educators and communities to publicize exhibits, concerts, performances and events that focus attention on the importance of arts education in all schools; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Massachusetts Senate congratulates the members of the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative on their celebration of the Month of March as Arts Education Month and joins with them in urging all citizens to encourage and support arts education and arts programming; and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted forwith by the Clerk of the Senate to the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative.

Senate, Adopted, March 9, 2009

Therese Murray
President of the Senate

William F. Welch
Clerk of the Senate

Offered by:  Therese Murray, President of the Senate