Arts Month Toolkit
The Deeper Value of the Arts
National Arts & Humanities Month takes place throughout October across the United States, encouraging everyone to appreciate art and explore the diverse cultures around us. It is the largest celebration of arts and culture in the U.S., urging reflection on how art enriches our lives. In addition to promoting the fun, expressiveness, big ideas and entertainment of the arts, Arts Month invites us to go deeper. Arts and culture are a change-making force, part of community health, a path to improved social cohesion, essential to a 21st education, and much, much more. What are the important ways that YOUR life has been changed by music, comedy, poetry, dance, theatre, or your favorite film?
Our theme for 2026 is “Made for the Moment”. It celebrates creativity as something happening in real time. It might be an artist creating a new work, a performer stepping onto a stage, a story being shared, or an audience experiencing something together. The theme invites people not only to observe the arts, but to be present when those creative moments happen.
We chose this theme because Arts Month is ultimately about participation. Art is often presented as a finished product, but creativity is active, immediate, and deeply human. Made for the Moment allows us to show the people behind the work and remind audiences that their presence helps complete the experience.
The theme also feels especially relevant right now. People are looking for authentic ways to connect with one another and with the communities where they live. Let Arts Month connect you to the rich possibilities of life in El Paso and Teller counties of Colorado!
City and County Proclamations
Throughout Arts Month, local governments across the Pikes Peak region officially recognize October as Arts Month through proclamations, resolutions, and other formal actions. Some recognitions include public presentations during scheduled government meetings, while others are formally adopted and entered into the public record.
When public presentations are scheduled, local artists, arts supporters, and community members are encouraged to attend and show their support for arts and culture in our region.
How do you get involved in Arts Month?
Attend a Proclamation with your elected officials (schedule above!)
Play the Arts Month Passport game during October to win prizes! Check back soon for more details.
Download our FREE Arts Month Curriculum Guide for all your educational needs.
Engage our Advocacy Toolkit below, find new resources to get involved with the creative sector, and share our graphics, using #ArtsOctober on your socials!
- Sign up to be an Arts Advocate! By signing up with our form, you subscribe to both the Cultural Office and Colorado Arts Action newsletters.
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Advocacy Resources
Curriculum Guide For Schools
Creating Civically-Engaged Art
How can I use art to portray the qualities of a good leader and citizen?
Overview:
Students will look at various pieces of art through a “reading art” lens to derive meaning about leadership and citizenship. “Reading art” is similar to developing visual literacy or using Visual Thinking Strategies. “Reading art” encourages students to look at certain qualities of visual art that they can then transfer to their own art. Students will take “reading art” strategies and create a piece of art that shows what they think a good leader or citizen looks like.
For K-2, this could be what it looks like in their immediate classrooms. For older elementary school students, it could be what it looks like in their own school or closer community. For middle and high school students, you can look at leadership and citizenship at a state, nation or world-wide level, depending on what you are studying in your classrooms. Students can work alone or in groups for the art project piece and use any visual art materials that you have. Partnerships between arts teachers and classrooms teachers are highly encouraged to maximize knowledge in artform and subject area.
Civic engagement encompasses the many ways that people may get involved in their communities to consider and address civic issues. Civic engagement can be a measure or a means of social change. In arts-based civic engagement, the creative process and resulting art work/experience can provide a key focus, catalyst, or space for civic participation, whether it is becoming better informed or actively contributing to the improvement of one’s neighborhood, community, and nation.
