Whereas, the Quad City community boasts a natural science museum, an accredited museum of art, a symphony, a professional ballet, a family museum of arts and science, a regional arts council and a nationally recognized performing artist series, a literary guild, a vast number of theater and music organizations, and visual arts programming presented to an audience approaching three million annually; and

Whereas, it is time to bring recognition to the collective cultural wealth that is our community; and

Whereas, a wealth that generates a strong local cultural tourism economy, is a catalyst for urban renewal initiatives, and impacts workforce development by delivering an enhanced quality of life; and

Whereas, in partnership with this proclamation, a new website will soon be unveiled, that will unite arts and culture presenters and be shared with civic, development and tourism organizations; that this in tandem with the release of a newly created logo, will unify the collaborating efforts of all partners in a branded Quad City community identity with world wide marketability;

Now, Therefore, I, Stanley F. Leach, Mayor of the City of Moline, Illinois, do hereby proclaim and recognize our Quad City community as a 

"MIDWEST ARTS MECCA" 

in Moline, Illinois and ask that all citizens join me in support of the Proclamation.

Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Moline, Illinois to be affixed this Twenty-Seventh day of February, the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and One.