Governor Stein Proclaims Arts in Education Week

Arts In Education Week

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, arts education, including dance, media arts, music, theatre arts, and visual arts, is an essential element of a complete and well-rounded education for all students; and 

Whereas, arts education enables students to develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline and collaboration, alternative ways to communicate and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, all of which support personalized pathways to academic success across the curriculum; and

Whereas, arts education contributes to increased attendance and graduation rates; elevates academic achievement; and prepares students for college, career, and citizenship readiness; and

Whereas, arts education contributes to personal growth outside the classroom, including increasing a student’s likelihood to participate in civic life, volunteerism, altruism, and community engagement; and

Whereas, to succeed in today’s economy, students must masterfully develop traits that business leaders demand in a twenty-first-century workforce, such as communicating through words, images, sounds and movement; and

Whereas, North Carolina supports statewide partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to promote and advance comprehensive arts education for North Carolina school children, including arts education, arts integration, and arts exposure; and

Whereas, the arts are an integral part of life in our state and are essential to a complete education, which contributes to the vibrancy and vitality of communities and the nation; and

Whereas, our public schools are charged with the education and development of well-rounded students;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 13 – 19, 2026, as “Arts In Education Week” in North Carolina and commend its observance.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifty-first.