The Importance of Arts Education in Society

 “The arts are not a frill. The arts are a response to our individuality and our nature and help to shape our identity. What is there that can transcend deep difference and stubborn divisions? The arts. They have wonderful universality. Art has the potential to unify. It can speak in many languages without a translator. The arts do not discriminate. The arts lift us up.” -Barbara Jordan (American lawyer, educator, and politician, 1936-1996)

The value of Arts Education is far-reaching.  For purposes of this blog, we will briefly examine four separate but interrelated fields.

1.       Arts Education for Arts’ Sake.  Since the beginning of time, humans of all cultures have expressed themselves through music, dance, and visual art. The arts are a vital part of any society.  The process of creating art, as well as the art itself, provides imaginative experiences for the artist and the audience.  A student who is introduced to an art form may discover his/her life’s work through its mastery.  Artistic expression is often the catalyst for innovation and social change and contributes to the advancement of society.
 
2.      Arts Education as Related to Academic Achievement.  Participation in the arts enhances neural development, problem-solving, language and vocabulary, fine motor skills, collaboration, and experimentation, among other abilities.  Multiple studies show that students who have regular opportunities to be involved in music and art exhibit greater academic achievement than those who are not afforded the benefits that arts education provides.  Integrating the arts into an academic curriculum reaches students who would not otherwise be engaged in classroom work, and provides challenges for those at all levels of learning. 

3.      Arts Education for Social and Emotional Learning.  Arts educators can play a significant role in fostering positive mental health among students, due to the fact that they are involved with most students for a number of years and are therefore able to build relationships and connections.  The arts are frequently a media for expressing one’s identity, lifestyle, emotions, and experiences, and can provide an outlet for dealing with trauma and feelings of low self-worth.  Performing and visual arts are widely acknowledged as contributing to a student’s self-esteem, empathy, and development of social skills.  The arts provide a different way of understanding.  Students become free to explore, experiment, and search for personal meaning.

4.      Arts Education for Community Building.  Arts education can promote community advancement by fostering a shared purpose and teamwork.  Performing with a music or dramatic ensemble, dance group, or painting a community mural can provide students with a framework to view society at large and their place in it.  Shared values of school and community are promoted, and arts endeavors can allow people of all races and cultures, ages, and abilities to experience shared activities.

In conclusion, arts education is vital to society for the sake of art itself, for its value when integrated into other disciplines, for social and emotional development, and for the broader sense of community and inclusiveness.

“Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life.”  Henry Miller