Senate 33

SENATE RESOLUTION 33

(By Senators Smith (Mr. President), Rucker, Chapman, and Oliverio)

[Introduced February 10, 2026]

Designating February 11, 2026, as West Virginia Arts Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Tourism, the West Virginia State Arts Office, and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts support programs, organizations, and individual artists in all 55 counties; 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, theatre, 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

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 11, 2026, as West Virginia Arts Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate encourages all citizens to celebrate and promote the 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 Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism.