Why the Arts? : Advocacy for the Arts in Education

With budget cuts and financial restrictions, education institutions must ask the question.... What can we live without? The answer we hear all too frequently, is the cutting of the most effective programs

A young person who participates in the arts is 3 to 4 times more likely to…

• Participate in a math and science fair

• To win an award for school attendance

• Be recognized for academic achievement

But the trick to this question is… how can you live without the arts if the arts is what holds everything else together? Art classes are not just about gaining knowledge of dance movements, how to play a chord on the guitar, how to draw a three-dimensional building, or how to operate a light board. The skills and work ethic learned in the arts develop a foundation for deeper learning—from English to science, from math to physical education.

Educating students about the arts also helps them develop…

• A sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal-setting

• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills

• A positive work ethic and pride in a job well done

The goal of any sort of education is to prepare a student with the necessary skills, talent and knowledge to prepare them for the future. When students participate in art courses during school, they are motivated to expand their learning by looking for opportunities to participate in activities outside of the classroom.

Also, compared to peers, students in the arts are likely to…

• Perform community services more than four times as often

• Show appreciation and understanding of the world around them

A public opinion survey conducted in February of 2001 by Americans for the Arts interviewed 1,008 adults to assess the American public’s attitude about arts education. An extraordinary 95% of parents surveyed believed the arts help to contribute positive attributes in “preparing children for the future.” Of those parents, 91% of them considered the arts as an important part of a well-rounded education for a student. With close to 100% of positive responses, why have we never heard of these art-supporting statistics until now??

• · 71% of parents felt “someone else” was better-suited to ask for more arts education in the school system.

We must all be advocates for the arts in education. How can we empower parents, students, and teachers to voice their support. "The Arts. Ask for More." public service advertising (PSA) campaign is currently serving as a voice to advocate the arts; it is designed to educate parents and citizens on why the arts are essential to a child's development and empower them to get more art into kids' lives, both in and out of school.

Visit the campaign’s website at Americans for the Arts to learn ways to show your support. Also, you may voice your support for arts in education by visiting Advocacy for the Arts.

*All statistical information for this post was found at http://www.americansforthearts.org.