what is the importance of arts education

New evidence of the benefits of arts education

Subscribe to the brown center on education policy newsletter, brian kisida and bk brian kisida assistant professor, truman school of public affairs - university of missouri daniel h. bowen dhb daniel h. bowen assistant professor, college of education and human development - texas a&m university.

February 12, 2019

Engaging with art is essential to the human experience. Almost as soon as motor skills are developed, children communicate through artistic expression. The arts challenge us with different points of view, compel us to empathize with “others,” and give us the opportunity to reflect on the human condition. Empirical evidence supports these claims: Among adults, arts participation is related to behaviors that contribute to the health of civil society , such as increased civic engagement, greater social tolerance, and reductions in other-regarding behavior. Yet, while we recognize art’s transformative impacts, its place in K-12 education has become increasingly tenuous.

A critical challenge for arts education has been a lack of empirical evidence that demonstrates its educational value. Though few would deny that the arts confer intrinsic benefits, advocating “art for art’s sake” has been insufficient for preserving the arts in schools—despite national surveys showing an overwhelming majority of the public agrees that the arts are a necessary part of a well-rounded education.

Over the last few decades, the proportion of students receiving arts education has shrunk drastically . This trend is primarily attributable to the expansion of standardized-test-based accountability, which has pressured schools to focus resources on tested subjects. As the saying goes, what gets measured gets done. These pressures have disproportionately affected access to the arts in a negative way for students from historically underserved communities. For example, a federal government report found that schools designated under No Child Left Behind as needing improvement and schools with higher percentages of minority students were more likely to experience decreases in time spent on arts education.

We recently conducted the first ever large-scale, randomized controlled trial study of a city’s collective efforts to restore arts education through community partnerships and investments. Building on our previous investigations of the impacts of enriching arts field trip experiences, this study examines the effects of a sustained reinvigoration of schoolwide arts education. Specifically, our study focuses on the initial two years of Houston’s Arts Access Initiative and includes 42 elementary and middle schools with over 10,000 third- through eighth-grade students. Our study was made possible by generous support of the Houston Endowment , the National Endowment for the Arts , and the Spencer Foundation .

Due to the program’s gradual rollout and oversubscription, we implemented a lottery to randomly assign which schools initially participated. Half of these schools received substantial influxes of funding earmarked to provide students with a vast array of arts educational experiences throughout the school year. Participating schools were required to commit a monetary match to provide arts experiences. Including matched funds from the Houston Endowment, schools in the treatment group had an average of $14.67 annually per student to facilitate and enhance partnerships with arts organizations and institutions. In addition to arts education professional development for school leaders and teachers, students at the 21 treatment schools received, on average, 10 enriching arts educational experiences across dance, music, theater, and visual arts disciplines. Schools partnered with cultural organizations and institutions that provided these arts learning opportunities through before- and after-school programs, field trips, in-school performances from professional artists, and teaching-artist residencies. Principals worked with the Arts Access Initiative director and staff to help guide arts program selections that aligned with their schools’ goals.

Our research efforts were part of a multisector collaboration that united district administrators, cultural organizations and institutions, philanthropists, government officials, and researchers. Collective efforts similar to Houston’s Arts Access Initiative have become increasingly common means for supplementing arts education opportunities through school-community partnerships. Other examples include Boston’s Arts Expansion Initiative , Chicago’s Creative Schools Initiative , and Seattle’s Creative Advantage .

Through our partnership with the Houston Education Research Consortium, we obtained access to student-level demographics, attendance and disciplinary records, and test score achievement, as well as the ability to collect original survey data from all 42 schools on students’ school engagement and social and emotional-related outcomes.

We find that a substantial increase in arts educational experiences has remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes. Relative to students assigned to the control group, treatment school students experienced a 3.6 percentage point reduction in disciplinary infractions, an improvement of 13 percent of a standard deviation in standardized writing scores, and an increase of 8 percent of a standard deviation in their compassion for others. In terms of our measure of compassion for others, students who received more arts education experiences are more interested in how other people feel and more likely to want to help people who are treated badly.

When we restrict our analysis to elementary schools, which comprised 86 percent of the sample and were the primary target of the program, we also find that increases in arts learning positively and significantly affect students’ school engagement, college aspirations, and their inclinations to draw upon works of art as a means for empathizing with others. In terms of school engagement, students in the treatment group were more likely to agree that school work is enjoyable, makes them think about things in new ways, and that their school offers programs, classes, and activities that keep them interested in school. We generally did not find evidence to suggest significant impacts on students’ math, reading, or science achievement, attendance, or our other survey outcomes, which we discuss in our full report .

As education policymakers increasingly rely on empirical evidence to guide and justify decisions, advocates struggle to make the case for the preservation and restoration of K-12 arts education. To date, there is a remarkable lack of large-scale experimental studies that investigate the educational impacts of the arts. One problem is that U.S. school systems rarely collect and report basic data that researchers could use to assess students’ access and participation in arts educational programs. Moreover, the most promising outcomes associated with arts education learning objectives extend beyond commonly reported outcomes such as math and reading test scores. There are strong reasons to suspect that engagement in arts education can improve school climate, empower students with a sense of purpose and ownership, and enhance mutual respect for their teachers and peers. Yet, as educators and policymakers have come to recognize the importance of expanding the measures we use to assess educational effectiveness, data measuring social and emotional benefits are not widely collected. Future efforts should continue to expand on the types of measures used to assess educational program and policy effectiveness.

These findings provide strong evidence that arts educational experiences can produce significant positive impacts on academic and social development. Because schools play a pivotal role in cultivating the next generation of citizens and leaders, it is imperative that we reflect on the fundamental purpose of a well-rounded education. This mission is critical in a time of heightened intolerance and pressing threats to our core democratic values. As policymakers begin to collect and value outcome measures beyond test scores, we are likely to further recognize the value of the arts in the fundamental mission of education.

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., the importance of arts education for high school students.

Art is an essential part of the human experience. It enables us to communicate with one another, express ourselves, and get new perspectives on the world. Arts education can help high school students develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities. It can also help build self-confidence and resilience.

What is arts education?

Arts education is a broad term that encompasses all of the different ways that students can learn about and engage with the arts. This can include classes in painting, drawing, sculpture, music, dance, theater, and more. Arts education can also be more informal, such as taking part in an art club or attending a museum or concert.

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Why is arts education important for high school students?

For high school students, arts education is crucial for a variety of reasons. Here are a few examples:

Creativity: By allowing students to express themselves in a variety of ways, arts education can aid in students’ creative growth by generating fresh ideas and problem-solving techniques.

Critical thinking: Analyzing and interpreting different works of art can help students better understand the world around them and make informed decisions.

Problem-solving: As students develop skills to come up with solutions to creative challenges, they can better deal with challenges in their everyday lives.

Self-confidence: Arts education can help students to develop self-confidence by giving them the opportunity to succeed in a challenging environment. This can help them believe in themselves and their abilities.

Resilience: Teaching students how to cope with failure and disappointment can help them bounce back from setbacks and persevere in the face of challenges.

Growth mindset: This is the belief that you can learn and improve with effort. Arts education can help students develop a growth mindset by providing them with opportunities to challenge themselves and learn new things.

Well-rounded individuals: Many students can explore and discover their interests and talents outside of the classroom. This can make them more well-rounded individuals and give them a competitive edge in college and the workforce.

Concrete Benefits for Students

Arts education can benefit high school students in many ways. Here are just a few examples:

A student who is struggling in math may be able to better understand the concepts by creating a visual representation of them.

A student who is shy may be able to come out of their shell by participating in a drama class.

A student who is struggling with their self-esteem may be able to boost their confidence by learning to play an instrument or by participating in a dance class.

A student who is interested in pursuing a career in the arts may be able to get the training and experience they need through arts education.

A student who is interested in a particular field, such as science or business, may be able to use the skills they learn in arts education to better understand that field.

A student who is simply looking for a way to express themselves creatively may find that arts education provides them with the outlet they need.

The Benefits of Arts Education for the Individual

In addition to the benefits that arts education can have for students' academic performance, there are also many personal benefits that students can gain from participating in the arts. These benefits include:

Increased self-esteem: Arts education can help students develop a positive sense of self-worth by giving them opportunities to express themselves creatively and to achieve success.

Improved social skills: Arts education can help students develop their social skills by requiring them to work together with others and to communicate effectively.

Reduced stress and anxiety: Arts education can help students reduce stress and anxiety by providing them with a creative outlet and by helping them to relax and de-stress.

Improved mental health: Arts education can help improve students' mental health by providing them with a sense of purpose and belonging.

Increased happiness: Arts education can help increase students' happiness by giving them a sense of joy and satisfaction.

The Benefits of Arts Education for Society

The benefits of arts education extend beyond the individual student. Arts education can also benefit society as a whole. These benefits include:

A more creative and innovative society: Arts education can spark creativity and enrich the community by encouraging people to think outside the box.

A more tolerant and understanding society: Arts education can help create a more tolerant and understanding society by exposing people to different cultures and perspectives.

A more civic-minded society: Arts education can help create a more civic-minded society by teaching people about the importance of civic engagement.

A more economically vibrant society: Arts education can help create a more economically vibrant society by producing skilled workers and by attracting businesses and tourists.

The Importance of Arts Education in High School and Future Planning

Arts education is especially important in high school, when students are making important decisions about their future. Arts education can help students explore their interests and talents, and it can also help them develop the skills they need to succeed in college and the workforce.

How to Get Involved in Arts Education

There are many ways to get involved in arts education. You can take classes at your school, join an arts club, or attend a museum or concert. You can also volunteer your time at an arts organization.

The Future of Arts Education

The future of arts education is bright. There is growing recognition of the value of arts education, and there is a movement to make arts education more accessible to all students. There have been efforts to promote additional funding for arts education as well as advocacy to provide more support for the proliferation of the field.

Arts education is an essential part of a balanced education. It can help students develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities in order to make them well-rounded individuals and prepare them for a bright future ahead. If you are a high school student, it would be wise to get involved in arts education, an investment in your personal growth and future.

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Publication

Guiding teachers to transform learning through the arts

Arts learning fuels transformative education that helps increase students’ capacity and motivation to build a more peaceful and sustainable world. However, to fully realize that potential, teachers must mindfully structure and support educational experiences to optimize what students will take away from them. 

This guide invites teachers to harness the transformative power of the arts through the research-informed Arts for Transformative Education model. This thinking tool for teachers was developed by analysing data from more than 600 teachers across 39 countries in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet). 

The model identifies four dimensions of arts learning experiences: Context, actions, relevance and outcomes. The model also recognizes special affordances associated with the arts that can enhance learning experiences. ‘Arts assets’ are situated within or across the learning dimensions. Arts assets hold the power to provoke transformation.

This publication provides:

● 12 ‘learning experience descriptions’ illustrating how the Arts for Transformative Education model works in real-world learning. 

● 12 ‘learning experience snapshots’ providing shorter additional examples.

● 'Guidelines for teachers’ outlining a step-by-step process for activating arts learning to empower transformative education.

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More on this subject

Other recent publications

Our Kids Need Arts Education Now More Than Ever. Here’s What Is Lost Without It

B etween months of a pandemic , years of political hostility and centuries of racism , mending America’s wounds will be the work of many hands. In his first 100 days, President-elect Joe Biden should empower school-age children — no fewer than one in six Americans —to help heal themselves, one another and their communities by restoring the arts to our education system.

There’s no time to waste. No different than grown-ups, kids today are walled in, lacking human interaction and adrift in anxieties that nobody should have to worry about. Researchers are tracking a global surge in the number of young people reporting symptoms of clinical depression . And to make matters worse, school-based mental health services are hamstrung .

The good news is we can help young people to not only express and channel difficult emotions, but also to find their spirit’s song. Painting and ceramics, music and dance, photography and film —these aren’t merely hobbies; they are some of humankind’s most liberating pathways to creativity and catharsis. Anyone who’s stood before an ancient sculpture and felt wonder, or listened to a piece of classical music and felt peace, or gazed at a Renaissance painting and experienced the sublime grasps the power of art to transmit emotion across the ages. And arts like architecture and design teach us to imagine and create a future all of us can share.

Nothing moves us like art.

Yet, even before the outbreak of COVID-19, schools nationwide were rolling back arts education . Now that schools are bootstrapping themselves through the most challenging school year in recent memory, the arts could be on their way to permanent “extracurricular” status.

For students, teachers, parents—for all of us—this is a giant leap backward, not least because studies have shown that students who have the arts included in their core curriculum also see improvement in reading and math. Arts education has also been linked to not only higher GPAs and SAT scores but lower suspension and dropout rates. What’s more, young people who study the arts consistently demonstrate higher levels of empathy, social tolerance and civic engagement . Are any qualities more needed in the United States right now?

It is no coincidence that students at the lowest-performing schools in the country don’t have access to the arts. As the shift to digital learning widens the educational equity gap , the arts can give the most disadvantaged students a fighting chance to succeed. Indeed, we’ve seen it firsthand.

We’re part of a nationwide effort to integrate the arts across our education system. Here in California, we partner with 24 historically marginalized schools to harness the arts for transformation. In every case, we’ve been inspired by the changes we’re tracking. Young people who might have fallen through the cracks academically or socially find their voices and make themselves heard. Parents report that arts programs make schools feel tighter knit and more inclusive. Teachers say the arts help them connect across disciplines—bringing music into math class, sculpture into social studies, drawing into science and more. Ninety-eight percent of teachers in our partner schools tell us that the arts had a positive or very positive impact on their students during this challenging year.

As advocates, we see that arts education is an antidote to the narrow curricula, rote memorization and overreliance on high-stakes testing that leave too many teachers questioning their calling, and too many students unseen. As human beings, we thrill to the excitement, joy and fun that the arts bring to the experience of learning, teaching and growing.

And just as the arts can revive a school’s community, so too they can help restore our nation’s soul. That’s why the job of making arts accessible to young people starts at the top. President-elect Biden should heed the call to appoint a Secretary of Arts and Culture, who can help ensure that building back better means building back room for creative self-expression. Federal, state and local officials must work together to fund arts programs, hire more arts teachers and buy more musical instruments and arts supplies. Finally, at home and in the classroom, teachers and parents need to hold each other accountable for giving kids the time, space and resources to dance, draw, paint and sing.

After all, our future doesn’t just include young people, it depends on them. It won’t be long before they step out of their childhoods and into our increasingly troubled world. If we want them to have the creative powers necessary to solve the problems we’re leaving behind, then now more than ever, students need the arts.

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Creativity and Academics: The Power of an Arts Education

The arts are as important as academics, and they should be treated that way in school curriculum. This is what we believe and practice at New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA). While the positive impact of the arts on academic achievement is worthwhile in itself, it's also the tip of the iceberg when looking at the whole child. Learning art goes beyond creating more successful students. We believe that it creates more successful human beings.

NMSA is built upon a dual arts and academic curriculum. Our teachers, students, and families all hold the belief that both arts and academics are equally important. Our goal is to prepare students for professional careers in the arts, while also equipping them with the skills and content knowledge necessary to succeed in college. From our personal experience ( and research ), here are five benefits of an arts education:

1. Growth Mindset

Through the arts, students develop skills like resilience, grit, and a growth mindset to help them master their craft, do well academically, and succeed in life after high school. (See Embracing Failure: Building a Growth Mindset Through the Arts and Mastering Self-Assessment: Deepening Independent Learning Through the Arts .) Ideally, this progression will happen naturally, but often it can be aided by the teacher. By setting clear expectations and goals for students and then drawing the correlation between the work done and the results, students can begin to shift their motivation, resulting in a much healthier and more sustainable learning environment.

For students to truly grow and progress, there has to be a point when intrinsic motivation comes into balance with extrinsic motivation. In the early stages of learning an art form, students engage with the activity because it's fun (intrinsic motivation). However, this motivation will allow them to progress only so far, and then their development begins to slow -- or even stop. At this point, lean on extrinsic motivation to continue your students' growth. This can take the form of auditions, tests, or other assessments. Like the impact of early intrinsic motivation, this kind of engagement will help your students grow and progress. While both types of motivation are helpful and productive, a hybrid of the two is most successful. Your students will study or practice not only for the external rewards, but also because of the self-enjoyment or satisfaction this gives them.

2. Self-Confidence

A number of years ago, I had a student enter my band program who would not speak. When asked a question, she would simply look at me. She loved being in band, but she would not play. I wondered why she would choose to join an activity while refusing to actually do the activity. Slowly, through encouragement from her peers and myself, a wonderful young person came out from under her insecurities and began to play. And as she learned her instrument, I watched her transform into not only a self-confident young lady and an accomplished musician, but also a student leader. Through the act of making music, she overcame her insecurities and found her voice and place in life.

3. Improved Cognition

Research connects learning music to improved "verbal memory, second language pronunciation accuracy, reading ability, and executive functions" in youth ( Frontiers in Neuroscience ). By immersing students in arts education, you draw them into an incredibly complex and multifaceted endeavor that combines many subject matters (like mathematics, history, language, and science) while being uniquely tied to culture.

For example, in order for a student to play in tune, he must have a scientific understanding of sound waves and other musical acoustics principles. Likewise, for a student to give an inspired performance of Shakespeare, she must understand social, cultural, and historical events of the time. The arts are valuable not only as stand-alone subject matter, but also as the perfect link between all subject matters -- and a great delivery system for these concepts, as well. You can see this in the correlation between drawing and geometry, or between meter and time signatures and math concepts such as fractions .

4. Communication

One can make an argument that communication may be the single most important aspect of existence. Our world is built through communication. Students learn a multitude of communication skills by studying the arts. Through the very process of being in a music ensemble, they must learn to verbally, physically, and emotionally communicate with their peers, conductor, and audience. Likewise, a cast member must not only communicate the spoken word to an audience, but also the more intangible underlying emotions of the script. The arts are a mode of expression that transforms thoughts and emotions into a unique form of communication -- art itself.

5. Deepening Cultural and Self-Understanding

While many find the value of arts education to be the ways in which it impacts student learning, I feel the learning of art is itself a worthwhile endeavor. A culture without art isn’t possible. Art is at the very core of our identity as humans. I feel that the greatest gift we can give students -- and humanity -- is an understanding, appreciation, and ability to create art.

What are some of the benefits of an arts education that you have noticed with your students?

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The Values of Arts Education

Arts education builds well-rounded individuals, arts education broadens our understanding of and appreciation for other cultures and histories, arts education supports social and emotional development, arts education builds empathy, reduces intolerance, and generates acceptance of others, arts education improves school engagement and culture, arts education develops valuable life and career skills, arts education strengthens community and civic engagement.

Arts education plays a vital role in the personal and professional development of citizens and, more broadly, the economic growth and social sustainability of communities. Its loss or diminution from the system would be incalculable. And yet, despite widespread support from parents and the general public, arts education still struggles to be prioritized by decision-makers. We believe one reason the arts are not prioritized stems from a disconnect between the perceived value of the arts and the real benefits experienced by students. We often heard in our outreach that the arts are misunderstood; one listening-session participant, a leader in arts education advocacy, noted that “decision-makers may have a flawed vision of what arts learning is in their heads, and they make decisions based on that vision.”

To remedy this, in this section we document the important attributes, values, and skills that come from arts education. We argue that arts education:

• Builds well-rounded individuals;
• Broadens our understanding and appreciation of other cultures and histories;
• Supports social and emotional development;
• Builds empathy, reduces intolerance, and generates acceptance of others;
• Improves school engagement and culture;
• Develops valuable life and career skills; and
• Strengthens community and civic engagement.

Many of these social and emotional benefits are intertwined with the priorities facing our school systems as we recover from the pandemic. These themes are enriched by a broad collection of voices—students, parents, arts educators, artists, and others—who told us about their experiences with arts education and how they have benefited.

“Though I personally have enjoyed and benefited tremendously from arts education, it is in my role as parent that I see most poignantly the power of arts education. I have seen my children think, feel, and connect through the arts in ways exponentially more powerful than they could without. When we moved to a community which did not support art education . . . I not only saw my own children struggle socially, emotionally, and academically; but also saw the devastating effects on the youth community. I am delighted now, in a new community, to see my children perform in musical and theatrical productions as well as to develop habits of inquiry, resourcefulness, and persistence through visual art. These experiences overshadow the toll that lack of arts opportunities took. Yet I grieve for those who do not have such access.”

—erin, parent, camdenton, missouri.

Similar to math, science, or history, the arts are a way of knowing and understanding the world and the complexity of human experience. Arts education builds an appreciation for the arts, and provides students with an introduction to artistic disciplines, techniques, and major movements that serves as a foundation for lifelong engagement. As such, the arts should not be viewed as a frill or subservient to other disciplines. Knowledge of the Renaissance, the Harlem Renaissance, pottery crafting techniques, or the fundamentals of perspective and design holds no less value than knowing the chemical formula for photosynthesis or how to calculate the circumference of a circle. And for many, it will mean much more. Indeed, research from the National Endowment for the Arts ( NEA ) found that childhood arts exposure is the number one predictor of arts participation as an adult. 37 Without that exposure, this window to the world remains hidden.

“I married a humanities professor, poet, and semiprofessional musician who had been saved by music as a child and had the opportunity to grow up playing in the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. This of course meant that our house has been filled with music and musicians forever. . . . When it came time for our children to play instruments, my husband steered them toward instruments that would complete his future jazz trio. He was still on the trumpet, my son emerged as the piano player, and my daughter was on the upright bass. When they were small, they would pretend or struggle through, but last year before my husband Greg died unexpectedly, there they were playing “All Blues” by Miles Davis in the trio he envisioned. When they are feeling down or need to remember him, they go back to their instruments without prompting and just play. . . . [Art] becomes a means to connect and remember.”

— dr. maria trent, physician-scientist, maryland.

• 37 Rabkin and Hedberg, Arts Education in America .

Alongside the deeper insights into the world that can come from the arts, they also provide a vital link to the past. Art spans time and space and opens a window into experiences distant from us. From the cave paintings of Lascaux to Hokusai’s The Great Wave to Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton , the arts document the richness of human history, preserved for future generations to contemplate and build upon. Arts education uniquely gives students the opportunity to engage with the past in a way that brings history to life and goes beyond textbooks. Expanding the curriculum beyond the Western-centric canon furthers these opportunities for deeper understanding and appreciation across cultures. Research shows that arts education not only increases historical knowledge but also historical empathy, opening up a deep understanding of what it was like to live in different times and places. 38

Art can also offer a way to preserve the cultural heritage of marginalized communities by engaging communities whose histories and culture have been suppressed or forgotten. Jamaica Osorio, an artist and scholar, told us that in her Hawaiian immersion school, arts were deeply integrated:

“So, when we studied literature, we studied these ancient mo‘olelo —these stories, histories, and literatures, and these songs of our kūpuna —of our ancestors—and that was the primary document. . . . I’ve devoted my life to the study of Hawaiian literature and, in particular, literature in Hawaiian, and have devoted my work to trying to represent these texts through poetry in a way that will be relevant and resonant with the people of my generation, who may feel—for whatever reason—distanced or disconnected from that archive.”

At every stage and in every school, the connections the arts open to the past can help deepen a child’s understanding of the world.

“The art classroom is a perfect place to introduce students to a world beyond their own. Through art-historical experiences, students can connect past and present events, realize that history is explored and experienced through art, and appreciate the struggles and triumphs of times they have not lived through.”

—jessica, visual arts educator, altoona, pa.

• 38 Brian Kisida, Laura Goodwin, and Daniel H. Bowen, “ Teaching History through Theater: The Effects of Arts Integration on Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes ,” AERA Open , January 2020; and Greene, Kisida, and Bowen, “Educational Value of Field Trips.”

Arts education is also a key ingredient in social and emotional learning, a growing priority for education policy-makers over the past decade. 39 The arts facilitate personal and emotional growth by providing opportunities for students to reflect on who they are and who they want to be. Artistic works expose students to deep personal perspectives and intimate experiences, and through these experiences students find new ways to see themselves and their role in the world. It is not surprising that many adults can reference key pieces of literature, poetry, and other artworks that have helped define who they are.

Similarly, the process of making art necessitates the formation of one’s own perspective. The need to then share that perspective gives students space to form and refine their own voice. Different arts disciplines provide distinct opportunities for students to learn to express themselves. For instance, Irishia Hubbard, a dance teacher with the Turnaround Arts Network in Santa Ana, California, works with middle school students (grades 6–8) on the dance team. After journaling and talking about experiences of immigration and borders, her students produce, rehearse, and perform a dance exploring those feelings. Ashley, an eighth-grade student, described the experience, observing that “this dance means a lot to me, because at one point in my life I was separated from my brother and my dad.” Stephanie Phillips, the Santa Ana superintendent, added, “they have absolutely blossomed, as performers, but also as expressive advocates of themselves; they are now talking about things that are of concern to them and learning to express them, not only artistically, but in simple terms of how to have collaborative and very constructive conversation.” Chiamaka, an eleventh-grader from North Carolina who shared her perspective with us, stated simply that art “has given me a voice.”

Carly, a twelfth-grader with cerebral palsy from New Mexico, told us that arts education helped her “step outside of my comfort zone.” Finding a place in theater gave her a place to be seen:

“I’ve had a lot of people tell me . . . that they wouldn’t cast me, that they wouldn’t do it, it would be too hard on me, and they basically didn’t want to risk it. And then I finally found a director who gave me my first lead role, and just being up there and realizing that everybody’s looking at me and they’re not just seeing a disability, they’re seeing me expressing myself in the way I loved. I just never wanted them to stop seeing me that way.”

“It is not an overstatement to say the arts saved my life. My arts education, particularly in high school, centered on vocal music, forensic theater, and traditional performance theater. Each of these inherently came with a community of people who—while all similar—taught one another to see the world through myriad eyes. I gained a siblinghood who provided creative and constructive outlets for the breadth of human emotion; I learned what it meant to be an ally; I gained the confidence to be myself and the assurance that ‘myself’ is exactly who the world needs me to be.”

—lynnea, arts administrator, suburban tennessee.

• 39 The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning is one key instance of this. They define social and emotional learning as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions” ( https://casel.org/what-is-sel/ ).

The arts have long had a role in bending the arc of history toward justice. Just as the arts help us better understand ourselves, they also improve our ability to empathize with others. As Mary Anne Carter, the twelfth chair of the NEA recently noted, “The arts are a powerful antidote against bigotry and hate. The arts can build bridges, promote tolerance, and heal social divisions.” 40 We have all witnessed the power of the arts to promote understanding, from the ability of plays like Angels in America to challenge how audiences saw AIDS , to the unifying role that music played in the Civil Rights Movement.

Arts education exposes students to a greater diversity of opinions and ideas. This in turn can challenge preconceived notions of others and build greater empathy and acceptance. A growing body of research confirms the power of arts education to contribute to these prosocial behaviors. 41 For instance, research in California public schools revealed that drama activities prompted students to take on different perspectives through interpreting a character’s motivation. 42 Loie, an eighth-grade student from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told us that through her experiences with arts courses, “I’m able to express my opinions and be open to other people’s opinions. . . . I can look at their experience and learn from it. . . . There’s different ways of looking at things.”

“Effectively communicating that we understand what another person is feeling is one of the greatest gifts we can give to another human being . . . from listening to even just a single movement of music by a classical composer . . . abstract, wordless music can transcend time and ethnicity in its ability to communicate the full depth of human emotion.”

— george, teaching artist (music), bedminster, nj.

• 40 “#WednesdayMotivation,” June 24, 2020, #WednesdayMotivation: Mary Anne Carter on the Power of the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts.
• 41 Sara Konrath and Brian Kisida, “Does Arts Engagement Increase Empathy and Prosocial Behavior? A Review of the Literature,” in Engagement in the City: How Arts and Culture Impact Development in Urban Areas , ed. Leigh N. Hersey and Bryna Bobick (Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2021).
• 42 Liane Brouillette, “ How the Arts Help Children to Create Healthy Social Scripts: Exploring the Perceptions of Elementary Teachers ,” Arts Education Policy Review 111 (1) (2009): 20–21.

In a perfect world, students would enthusiastically look forward to coming to school. Educators are continually searching for ways to excite students about learning, combat chronic absenteeism, and curb the dropout rate. Engaging students in their own learning process is not only important for the time they spend in school but is essential to inculcating a lifelong love of learning and discovery.

Arts education is particularly well-suited to combat complacent attitudes toward learning. Indeed, research finds that students enrolled in arts courses have improved attendance, and the effects are larger for students with a history of chronic absenteeism. 43 Related research finds that arts learning generates spaces “full of student passion and apprenticeship style learning.” 44 The arts provide students a sense of ownership and agency over their own education. Students who enroll in a theater class, for example, gain a sense of purpose as they work toward opening night, and they build a community with their peers and teachers as they work together toward a common goal. Alex, an arts educator from Chicago, illustrated it this way:

“I believe that it is imperative for students to have voice and choice in their learning . . . students are more invested and take more risks when they create from the point of what is personal or important to them. . . . When students discover an idea or medium that speaks to them, they become more invested in learning and creating.”

Arts education also improves school engagement by providing different ways of accessing educational content. In a nation with over 50 million K –12 students, schools need a broad set of entry points for students to discover what kinds of learning environments work best for them. Jessica, a visual arts educator from Altoona, Pennsylvania, told us, “Students who may be low achievers in the academic classroom are some of my highest functioning students in the art room. . . . Everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses.” Not all students learn the same way, and art offers students with different learning styles another mechanism by which to absorb content and ideas. Jensen, an eleventh-grader from Washington state, told us, “from taking art classes I learned that having a different pace or approach to things is okay, and everyone learns and makes things in their own way. And that really helped with my self-esteem in school and outside of school.”

“I really disliked school and thought it was an incredible waste of time and looked forward to turning sixteen so that I could drop out like my Dad had done. The one thing that kept me in school was that I really loved band. I couldn’t see myself leaving the band behind, and so I stayed in school and even went to college. Not as a music major, but I continued to play in the College Marching and Concert bands. Now I work in Arts Education and hope that the artists we send to perform in schools and teach workshops are finding the students who are bored and dislike school and are giving them a reason to stay.”

—donnajean, arts educator, kendall park, nj.

Finally, the collaborative nature of the arts can build strong bonds among students, teachers, and parents, thus contributing to a more positive school culture. Teachers in schools with higher levels of arts education report greater parental involvement. 45 Erin, the parent from Missouri, relayed this compelling story about her children:

“This year [2020] was, as was the case for most of us around the world, a particularly tough year. My children were uncharacteristically seized with anxiety and dread about returning to school. One child in particular, typically a bright and eager student, despaired the return. It was not her friends but her art teachers—and the experiences they collaboratively created—that completely turned her attitude around. For that, I am forever grateful; for in the midst of dread and despair, art helps us to meet and support one another.”

“I grew up in a dysfunctional family . . . and I wrote about all the loss and damage of growing up in a dysfunctional family—the abuse and the neglect. And when I was a senior in high school, the very last thing that happened before I graduated was someone turned in one of my poems, and it won the poetry contest for the [school’s literary magazine]. It was profound. I wasn’t this zero nothing, and my work had merit. And it planted a seed that really navigated the rest of my life. . . . That little measure of recognition really formed everything, and I’m so grateful for everybody that made that literary magazine exist in this enormous high school. There were lots of sports and lots of clubs and that tiny literary magazine was, I assume for other writers like me, a life raft—a lifesaving raft.”

—mary agnes antonopoulos, copywriter, monroe, ny.

• 43 Bowen and Kisida, The Arts Advantage .
• 44 Jal Mehta, “ Schools Already Have Good Learning, Just Not Where You Think ,” Education Week , February 8, 2017.
• 45 Bowen and Kisida, The Arts Advantage .

Arts education also imparts valuable skills that will serve students in their lives and careers: observation, problem-solving, innovation, and critical thinking. 46 Participating in the arts can also improve communication skills, generate self-esteem, teach collaboration, and increase confidence. Such skills are valuable to artists and non-artists alike. For those interested in careers in the arts, from musicians to music producers, fine artists to graphic designers, arts courses provide an opportunity for career exploration and a foundation for career choices.

“Arts education played an important role in developing my skills and preparing me for that dreadful thing we call ‘adulthood.’ This may be cliche, but it’s true when I say it’s taught me important life skills such as thinking outside the box, being able to adapt quickly to situations, developing that camaraderie with people, and being comfortable in my own skin. Improv is definitely something I benefited from in my arts education. The number one rule of improv is to never say no but always say, ‘Yes, and. . . .’ That’s proven to be key to my success in life—personally and professionally. My arts education taught me how to be confident . . . flexible, creative, how to be a team player, and when to listen and talk. I can’t say for certain if I’d be as successful in my personal or professional development without my arts education, and I certainly appreciate what it’s done for me and don’t take it for granted.”

—aaron kubey, director of artistic sign language, washington, d.c..

Moreover, specific skills covered through arts education directly affect a broad swath of careers outside the core arts careers. Stephanie, an arts educator in suburban California, told us that her main goal in teaching art is “developing creativity and innovation.” From the interior designer relying on color theory to the architect who uses 3 D software to the engineer who incorporates elements of design, the skills embodied in arts education have wide applications. Jensen, an eleventh-grader who had studied at a specialized arts school and wants to pursue a career in medicine, told us, “a lot of the things I learned are skills I would use interacting with people and the world around me, and not just a sheet of paper or something that’s on my computer.” The far-reaching benefits of arts education include work ethic and resilience. As Jade Elyssa A. Rivera, who works in arts education policy and advocacy in California, shared, “The arts were an essential part of my upbringing. It is where I learned the meaning of hard work. It is where I learned that, even in the face of systemic injustices, my dreams are achievable. It is where I learned that, if I just roll up my sleeves and do the work, anything is possible.”

“While I continued to love art and teaching, in 2015 I made a drastic career shift and left the field of education. I found myself working in the private sector for a large retailer doing ISD [instructional systems design] work . . . thinking this would be a new path. While it did end up being a new path, it wasn’t as far from my background as I thought it would be. It was only a few months into this work that I found myself applying for and being accepted for a role based on the fine arts and education background I had been pursuing previously. While it was applied in a corporate sense, I was given the opportunity to photograph, film, and design training for retail employees directly applying principles I had learned throughout my arts education and career for an entirely new and unique audience. Beyond aesthetics and design, I’ve been able to apply the critical thinking skills, view problems from multiple sides, draft ideas, and quickly revise or shift. Many of these were formed through learning about art. . . . Without art and its impact on my life, I would not have the perspective, experiences, or career I do today.”

—ian, former arts educator, arkansas.

• 46 NGA Center for Best Practices, The Impact of Arts Education on Workforce Preparation (Washington, D.C.: National Governors Association, May 2002).

Finally, arts education can lead to socially empowered and civically engaged youths and adults. Equipped with the knowledge, habits, values, and skills provided through arts education, students are well-prepared to promote democratic values and contribute to the health of our economy and culture. 47 Arts education experiences offer community and civic contributions with the potential for positive transformations. For example, Grace, an arts educator in Lake Arrowhead, California, described how, “Over the course of my 27 years of teaching art I have promoted community and civic engagement with schoolwide murals on and off campus.”

Strengthening and valuing communities through the arts also occurs through collaborations between schools and communities. Leslie Imse, a music educator and chair of the Farmington Public Schools K -12 music department, living in Simsbury, Connecticut, shared an example of her school’s engagement with seniors in their community: 48

“In addition to performing at our school concerts, student musicians perform regularly in their school and town community. After the 2008 recession, the music department realized that the population that was hurting the most were the senior citizens in our community. We created a new event for the senior citizens, bringing them to our school cafeteria for a free meal and ‘a show.’ It was so popular in town that we annually have one ‘Senior Citizen Cafe’ in the fall and one in the spring. The relationships that students have made with the senior citizens are meaningful, as our musicians not only prepare music for the older generation but also wait tables and converse with the seniors. . . . This is one of the many service activities that the music department connects with the community.”

Arts education also provides opportunities for students to engage with current events both close to the lives of students and far away. For instance, at Clarence Edwards Middle School in Boston, the eighth-grade visual arts class run by Shari Malgieri follows the news—international, national, and popular—over the entire year and then collaborates on a comprehensive mural about the year as seen by the students. 49

“As a person who facilitates arts-in-education residencies, I’ve watched people of all ages benefit from the arts. . . . I’ve seen teenagers weld beautiful fish from trash they cleaned from a stream to educate the public about the ways pollution threatens wildlife, and heard them say how meaningful it is to know that their work will make a difference. I’ve watched the joy on the faces of folks with intellectual disabilities as they crafted panels for a group quilt that would go on a city-wide tour. . . . Nearly every day of my working life is an encounter with the ways arts in education pulls people together, ignites change (both personal and social), and gives life to deep and lasting happiness.”

—marci, arts facilitator, lancaster, pa.

These aspects of community and civic engagement, in concert with the other benefits of arts education, prepare students to become effective citizens who are socially empowered and civilly engaged adults, equipped with the tools to contribute their own voices to the ever-evolving story of America. As Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first youth poet laureate, expressed, “All art is political. The decision to create, the artistic choice to have a voice, the choice to be heard, is the most political act of all.” 50 How we respond to the deficit in arts education in America—how we prepare our future leaders to refine and use their own voices—will help define our course for generations to come.  

• 47 Arts education can also serve as a prevention, intervention, transition, and healing experience for students in the juvenile justice system, where barriers to arts engagement often exist. The Education Commission of the States suggests expanding the arts for incarcerated youth, who disproportionately lack access when removed from their communities and schools. Education Commission of the States, Engaging the Arts across the Juvenile Justice System (Denver: Education Commission of the States, April 2020).
• 48 Many other types of intergenerational arts programs exist that provide opportunities for participants from different generations to develop positive reciprocal relationships. These interactions begin to break down existing stereotypes of ageism and offer a pathway to healthy aging and meaningful community relationships. Intergenerational public schools in Cleveland, Ohio, have been in operation since 2000 and emphasize the importance of experience and relationship-based learning. Adults and elders volunteer at schools, where they engage with young people through the arts and other learning opportunities. Examples of such intergenerational arts projects span multiple disciplines, including theatre (see, for example, Richard Chin, “ This ‘Peter Pan’ Production Truly Is Ageless ,” NextAvenue , April 8, 2016), visual art, and ecology (for example, “ Students’ Concerns for Nature Featured in Art Show ,” Sauk Trail Wolves , n.d.). Many other resources are located on the Generations United website , a national organization that fosters intergenerational learning relationships, linking schools with elders in a variety of sites across the country.
• 49 David Farbman, Dennie Palmer Wolf, and Diane Sherlock, Advancing Arts Education through an Expanded School Day: Lessons from Five Schools (Boston: National Center on Time and Learning, June 2013), 19–31.
• 50 Carren Jao, “ Poetry Is Political: Amanda Gorman’s America ,” KCET , January 20, 2021.

What is Art Education: Exploring its Purpose and Impact

What is art education.

Are you curious about the power of art education? Have you ever wondered why it’s so important to have art in the classroom?

Join us on this journey as we discover the true value of art education and how it can make a difference in students’ lives everywhere. Get ready to be inspired and amazed!

Key Takeaways

The disciplines in art education.

It includes performing arts such as dance, music, theatre, and visual arts like drawing, painting, sculpture, and design.

Through art education, students are exposed to diverse artistic practices, where they can develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Furthermore, it provides opportunities to explore cultural heritage and appreciate the importance of creativity in society.

Integrating arts into education allows learners to express themselves and discover their talents.

Understanding Art Education

Art education is a vital educational experience that fosters creativity and artistic expression and offers various cognitive and emotional benefits.

Whether it is music, dance, visual arts, or theatre, arts education is crucial in broadening your perspective and nurturing your imagination.

This helps you better understand various cultures, traditions, and histories, fostering empathy and respect for others.

Moreover, exploring, creating, and appreciating art can be therapeutic, enabling you to manage stress and emotional turmoil effectively.

So, embrace the world of arts, experience art education’s benefits , and appreciate the richness it brings to your life.

Importance of Art Education

As you explore the importance of art education , you will find numerous benefits that contribute to the overall development of every student.

One of the primary reasons art education is essential is because it helps students engage with school and reduce stress.

Incorporating art education into your curriculum aids in developing social-emotional and interpersonal skills .

A robust arts-learning environment enriches your educational experience by stimulating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Art education challenges you to view the world differently and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

Partaking in art education equips you to handle constructive criticism. In the creative process, receiving feedback and refining your work is integral.

In conclusion, art education is vital to creating a well-rounded academic experience.

With numerous benefits, ranging from stress reduction to the development of interpersonal skills, it is clear that art education plays an essential role in every student’s overall growth.

Pedagogy in Art Education

Choice-based pedagogy is a popular approach in art education, where you, as the art teacher, design learning activities that support students as artists and provide them with authentic choices to respond to their ideas and interests through art-making  [1] .

Another critical aspect to consider in your pedagogy is culturally responsive teaching. As an art teacher, you must acknowledge and respect the diverse backgrounds of your students.

By incorporating their unique cultural experiences into your teaching and adapting your methods to ensure that all students can connect with the material, you are contributing to an inclusive art education environment.

Your coursework and professional development should emphasize art history , contemporary artistic practices, and various media and materials.

This helps you introduce students to a wide range of artists and movements, enabling them to critically engage with the world of art.

Your pedagogy might need to be flexible while working as a teaching artist, adapting to the unique needs and goals of each project or setting.

Doing so contributes to developing a new generation of artists and creative thinkers.

The Role of Art Educators

Your role goes beyond teaching the techniques and skills required to create art. It would help if you also instilled in your students an appreciation for and understanding of the cultural , historical , and social contexts in which different art forms have evolved.

In addition to being knowledgeable in your subject matter, as an art educator, you should cultivate a creative and supportive learning environment for your students.

This includes encouraging experimentation, curiosity, and self-expression while providing constructive feedback to help students grow as artists.

In summary, as an art educator, your role encompasses teaching a variety of art forms , nurturing creativity , fostering critical thinking , and advocating for the importance of an arts education in students’ lives.

Visual and Performing Arts

You’ll explore various disciplines in art education, including visual, performing, media , and  contemporary art .

Visual art encompasses traditional fine arts such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture.

On the other hand, performing arts consist of disciplines like theatre, dance, and music. These fields emphasize movement, expression, and storytelling, often utilizing the human body as the primary instrument.

This can involve exploring the works of present-day artists, situating them within a broader cultural context, and critically analyzing their messages and methodologies.

Art Education Programs

Art education programs play a crucial role in developing well-rounded students.

As a part of these programs, you’ll find courses encompassing various disciplines such as dance, music, theatre, and visual arts like drawing, painting, sculpture, and design works.

Many  art education programs  focus on building stronger communities and fostering strategic alliances that propel the arts forward as a solution.

As the demand for art education rises, it is essential to understand the benefits it offers to students.

In  community arts programs , participants often collaborate on art projects, emphasizing community involvement and social change. These programs aim to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Enrolling in a reputed  art school  can help you access top-notch facilities, dedicated faculty members experienced in various art forms, and networks of fellow artists and creative professionals.

Arts Integration in Education

Arts integration is a teaching approach where content standards are taught and assessed equitably in and through the arts.

This creative process connects an art form with another subject area, meeting evolving objectives and fostering a well-rounded educational experience.

This method focuses on the desired outcome, like your culminating event, exhibition, or final artwork , and builds the curriculum to achieve that goal.

This approach ensures all subject areas are effectively woven together and essential content is included in the learning process.

Connecting subject areas through the arts can create a more inclusive, diverse, and stimulating learning environment for all students.

Student Outcomes in Art Education

In art education, students experience various improvements in their learning outcomes.

By honing their creative skills, students become more capable of generating new ideas and adapting to different situations.

This more profound understanding of artistic meaning helps students develop a more nuanced approach to interpreting the world around them.

Problem-solving is another critical learning outcome associated with art education. Students who engage in art projects often face complex challenges that require them to find solutions by experimenting with various techniques and materials.

Students learn to communicate effectively , listen to others, and contribute to a larger goal by engaging in these collaborative activities.

Students can experience growth in these essential skills by participating in art education.

Art Practice and Learning Opportunities

Studio practice.

In art education, studio practice is a crucial component that enables you to develop your technical skills and artistic abilities.

Practical Experiences

Practical experiences in art education provide invaluable opportunities to apply your artistic knowledge in real-life situations.

Art Making and Creativity

Art-making and creativity go hand-in-hand in the realm of art education. By actively participating in creative activities, you develop a stronger sense of self-expression and expand your ability to generate innovative ideas.

Embracing art-making and creativity fosters a lifelong love of learning and enriches your educational experience.

The Impact of Art Education on Early Childhood Development

In early childhood education, the integration of art plays a significant role in the development of young artists.

Various studies have demonstrated the value of incorporating artistic practices into early childhood education programs  [6] .

Encouraging young learners to engage in imaginative activities can improve social interaction, self-expression, and emotional regulation skills.

Children develop a sense of curiosity and wonder that translates into a lifelong love of learning by participating in diverse artistic experiences, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and music.

In conclusion, as an advocate for your child’s education, it is essential to consider the impact of art education on their early childhood development .

Art Education Beyond the Classroom

Museums are a great place to expose yourself to various art forms and expand your understanding of different artistic styles and periods.

While in-person art classes offer a distinct experience, joining art organizations can provide valuable knowledge and opportunities to network with other artists and professionals .

These groups often provide workshops, events, and resources to help you grow as an artist.

Art education can also benefit non-arts fields by fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Brainstorming techniques, like collaborative sketching and mind-mapping, can be used across various industries to generate new ideas and improve decision-making.

Take advantage of the opportunities available, explore new avenues, and let your art flourish beyond the classroom.

Future Perspectives in Art Education

One key aspect of future perspectives in art education is how it prepares students for the evolving world.

Moreover, the integration of new concepts and innovations in the field of art education will provide unique opportunities for students to thrive.

The embrace of technology in art education will significantly enhance how you approach creative projects, equipping you with the necessary tools to master emerging forms of artistic expression.

Furthermore, the future of art education aims to focus on the importance of art in addressing social and emotional well-being.

By being involved in this ever-evolving field, you will be better prepared for the challenges ahead, fostering creativity and innovation that can significantly impact the world.

Final Thoughts on What is Art Education

As we conclude our exploration of art education, we are left with a deep appreciation for the power of creativity and self-expression.

It’s about preparing students for a future where innovation and creativity are more crucial than ever before.

We are a team of creatives dedicated to sharing tips, tricks, and step-by-step guides on all things related to art and design. Check out our blog for a list of all the awesome things we post!

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Why Art Matters: Understanding the Importance of Art Education

• by Team Varthana
• Posted on January 6, 2023
• in Classroom Management

Although there’s a lot of information available on how important arts integration is in creating well-prepared learners and leaders, a lot of institutions consider arts education a luxury and skip it from their curriculum in order to focus on or complete the syllabus. 

However, there is also a visible trend of many other schools turning their focus onto overall student development, with art being an integrated part of the curriculum. Arts education helps students think outside the box and explore topics in an unfamiliar way. 

What is Art Education in School?

Students who receive an arts education have access to a creative outlet that can help them solve problems more effectively. It encompasses a variety of disciplines, including drawing, painting, sculpture, music, theater, dance, photography, and digital media. They acquire the ability to think creatively and approach subjects in different ways while also fostering their cognitive, emotional, and social development.

What is the Aim of Art Education?

Art education plays a vital role in a student’s overall development. It goes beyond just learning artistic techniques to contribute to various aspects of personal and intellectual growth. Here’s how art education benefits students:

Stimulate Original Thought

Art education aims to spark original thinking in students. By engaging with different art forms, students learn to generate and explore new ideas, enhancing their ability to innovate and create.

Foster Analytical Skills

Art encourages students to assess their creations and those of others critically. This evaluation process helps them develop analytical skills that are useful in various problem-solving scenarios.

Facilitate Emotional Understanding

Art serves as a medium for students to explore and articulate their emotions. It helps them better understand and express their feelings, contributing to their overall emotional development.

Improve Manual Coordination

Participating in art activities improves students’ manual coordination. Tasks like painting or sculpting refine their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are valuable in everyday activities.

Expand Global Perspectives

Through art, students are introduced to different cultures and artistic traditions. This exposure helps them gain a broader view of the world and fosters a greater appreciation for diverse cultural expressions.

What are the Objectives of Art Education?

Art education serves several important purposes beyond simply creating visually appealing works. It plays a key role in the holistic development of students, offering a range of benefits that contribute to their overall growth. Here are the main objectives of art education:

Cultivate Imagination

Art education encourages students to explore their imagination and think creatively. By experimenting with various artistic techniques and media, students learn to envision and realize their ideas in innovative ways.

Enhance Critical Thinking

Art helps students develop their critical thinking skills by requiring them to analyze their work and make decisions about design and technique. This process fosters problem-solving abilities and thoughtful evaluation.

Improve Emotional Expression

Art provides a constructive outlet for students to express their emotions and feelings. This supports emotional development and helps students manage and communicate their emotions effectively.

Develop Fine Motor Skills

Engaging in artistic activities like drawing, painting, and sculpting enhances fine motor skills. These activities improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity, which are important for various everyday tasks.

Encourage Cultural Awareness

Art education exposes students to different artistic styles and cultural traditions, helping them appreciate diverse perspectives and understand the historical and cultural context behind various art forms.

Support Academic Achievement

Art education can positively impact other academic areas by improving skills such as observation and attention to detail. Engaging in art can boost concentration and problem-solving abilities that benefit students across the curriculum.

What is the Importance of Art Education in Student Life?

Art plays a crucial role in education by enhancing students’ creativity and critical thinking. Here’s how:

Enhances Creativity

Art enhances creativity, which in turn fosters problem-solving skills. By participating in arts and learning activities, children develop confidence in their abilities and learn new things. Arts also promote risk-free exploration, and it is this freedom that inspires confidence. It allows children to see things from their viewpoint.

For instance, Students tasked with creating a mural for their school use their imagination to design a piece that represents their school environment or community. This project encourages them to think outside the box and develop original ideas. 

Improves Academic Performance

Students who study arts show improved language, reading, and math skills, as well as a greater ability for higher-order thinking skills such as analysis and problem-solving. Students also develop skills such as resilience, courage, and an improved mindset to help them learn professionally, perform well academically, and have a successful life after high school. 

Learning art is not only through creativity but also improves learning in fields such as mathematics and science and in the field of literature. Any skill that students learn through art education allows them to apply the same in academics, resulting in improved academic performance.

For example, when a student learns to play an instrument, they are not just developing their reading comprehension skills but also enhancing spatial-temporal skills, which are crucial for understanding complex mathematical concepts.

Self-Reliance

Students become self-reliant when they start depending on their own strengths, knowledge, skills, and resources rather than the strengths of others. Creating art can confirm one’s uniqueness while also providing a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. Furthermore, arts education has been proven to support a sense of social identity, encourage goal-directed behavior, and increase social resilience.

For example, offering access to a variety of resources, such as art books, online tutorials, and materials, and encouraging students to pursue independent research projects. A student interested in digital art might explore different software programs and techniques on their own time.

Also Read : How teachers can use the best tools and resources available to create a modern classroom?

Educates Them about Teamwork

A unique approach to teaching teamwork and communication skills is the use of visual, and performing arts. The larger the creative team, the more valuable the art project is for open-minded people who are willing to learn, expand, integrate, and succeed. 

Collaboration creates a sense of comradeship and belonging to the community as young artists work towards a common goal. Researchers have found that students who worked collaboratively on an art project and engaged in a discussion were more thoughtful than those who worked alone.

For example, a theater production requires students to work together, from actors and directors to set designers and stagehands. This collaborative effort teaches them to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and appreciate teamwork.

Helps Them in Decision-Making

Art education is how children can be encouraged to choose their own subjects, colors, and interpretations of art. This allows children to make their own decisions in various areas of life. It will open up children’s imaginations and ensure that they have plenty of time to practice their decision-making skills. They may make mistakes, but they will learn to overcome them and move on from their failures. This will help the child develop the courage to make decisions without developing the fear of failure.

For example, during a painting project, students might be given the autonomy to select their materials and designs. They learn to make decisions about which materials best suit their vision and how to execute their ideas effectively.

Enhances Leadership Skills

When children are encouraged to make their own decisions, they begin to understand that they can update and interpret the world around them. These skills will make the child a leader rather than a follower. Arts education encourages higher-level thinking to explore academic subjects and life outside of school. No matter what profession or career the child chooses when they grow up, leadership qualities will ensure that they succeed in their chosen field. 

For instance, in a visual arts class, students analyze famous paintings, learn to observe details, question techniques, and interpret meanings. This practice sharpens their ability to think critically and solve problems creatively.

Improves Motor Skills

Motor skills in the classroom give students the ability and skill to work independently. Drawing lines, picking up small objects, tearing paper, and holding a pencil are examples of their importance. This is especially true for young children, because art classes exercise and strengthen the small muscles in the child’s fingers, hands, and wrists, making it easier to learn to write.

For example, activities like drawing, painting, or sculpting improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which are essential for younger students as they develop physically.

Understanding the Crucial Role of Arts in Education 

Understanding the importance of art in education, the focus on creativity becomes vital to a comprehensive learning experience. Art offers students a distinct way to express themselves, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Beyond its visual appeal, incorporating art into education enhances students’ communication abilities, stimulates innovation, and fosters a greater appreciation for different viewpoints. The inclusion of art not only adds depth to the academic journey but also develops skills necessary for navigating the complexities of the modern world, making education a dynamic and well-rounded journey. 

This table highlights the crucial role of arts in education and emphasizes why arts are a necessary and fundamental part of education, focusing on the broader educational goals and purposes.

Benefits of Art Education for Students

Involving students in diverse art forms goes beyond fostering creativity, but acts as a driving force for refining observation, interpretation, and evaluation skills, empowering students to approach challenges with a thoughtful and smart mindset. Art education aspires to develop students capable of navigating complexities, thinking independently, and making meaningful contributions to society. Let us understand what students gain from arts education. Here are the positive outcomes and benefits that result from engaging with the arts.

• Improved ability to brainstorm and come up with unique solutions in various contexts.
• Better grades and understanding in subjects like math and science due to improved cognitive abilities.
• Enhanced ability to analyze complex situations and develop creative solutions in everyday life.
• Increased confidence in presenting and defending their ideas in various settings.
• Better hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• Reduced stress and better emotional management through creative expression.
• Improved teamwork and communication skills in group settings.
• Increased personal joy and fulfillment from participating in artistic activities.
• Greater cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diversity.
• Preparedness for careers in fields such as design, music, theater, and visual arts.

How does Art Education Help Students?

For school leaders aiming to enhance the educational experience, art education offers significant benefits that support overall student development.

Boosts Creative Problem-Solving

Art education encourages students to tackle challenges from diverse perspectives. By exploring different artistic techniques, students learn to innovate and solve problems creatively, which is valuable across all subjects.

Enhances Communication Skills

Art projects help students convey their ideas visually. This practice strengthens their ability to communicate clearly and effectively, improving their overall expression in both written and verbal forms.

Builds Confidence

Completing art assignments fosters a sense of achievement. This success boosts students’ self-confidence and motivates them to take on new academic and personal challenges.

Fosters Collaboration

Group art activities promote teamwork. Students learn to work together, share ideas, and respect differing viewpoints, enhancing their collaborative skills which are essential in any school environment.

Encourages Personal Reflection

Art provides a medium for students to reflect on their emotions and experiences. This reflection supports personal growth and helps students develop a clearer understanding of their own identities.

Supports Academic Growth

Participating in art can improve focus and attention to detail. These skills benefit students in other academic areas, as they apply the discipline and concentration gained through art education to their overall learning.

What is the Relationship between Art and Education?

Art and education are deeply interconnected, with art playing a significant role in enhancing various aspects of students’ development. By integrating art into the educational experience, students benefit in multiple ways that support their overall growth. The following table highlights key areas where art and education intersect:

Art is a vital component of education because it enriches students’ learning experiences in numerous ways. It encourages creativity, enhances critical thinking, and provides a valuable outlet for emotional expression. Additionally, art activities support the development of fine motor skills and foster cultural awareness. By integrating art into education, schools can offer a more comprehensive and engaging curriculum that supports students’ overall growth and prepares them for diverse future opportunities.

1. Why is art education important in the classroom?

By engaging with the arts, students enhance their cognitive abilities, improve academic performance, and develop fine motor skills. It is important in the classroom because it fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression, essential skills for holistic student development. It encourages students to explore diverse perspectives and histories and supports social and emotional learning by providing outlets for self-expression and collaboration. 

Art education is important because it encourages creativity, enhances critical thinking, and provides a healthy outlet for emotional expression. It helps students develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them through various artistic mediums.

2. What are the benefits of integrating arts into the curriculum?

Integrating arts into the curriculum offers numerous benefits that enhance students’ overall educational experience. It encourages creativity and imagination, allowing students to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions. Academic performance improves as it enhances cognitive abilities and supports learning in subjects like math, science, and literacy. It also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for navigating complex challenges. Social skills are strengthened through collaborative projects, while exposure to diverse artistic traditions promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity. 

3. How does arts education contribute to overall student development?

It enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through the analysis and creation of art, encouraging students to explore various perspectives and solutions. It fosters emotional intelligence by providing a safe space for self-expression and emotional exploration, promoting mental well-being. It cultivates cultural awareness and appreciation, broadening students’ understanding of diverse cultures and histories. Finally, arts education shapes well-rounded, creative, and empathetic individuals prepared for both academic and life challenges.

4. What role does creativity play in arts education?

Creativity plays a crucial role in arts education, serving as the driving force behind exploration, innovation, and expression. It encourages students to think imaginatively and approach problems with a vibrant perspective, fostering originality and inventive thinking. Through creative processes in various artistic disciplines such as visual arts, music, theater, and dance, students learn to experiment, take risks, and adapt to new ideas. This strengthens their problem-solving skills and adaptability in other areas of life. Creativity allows students to express their individuality and emotions, contributing to their personal and emotional growth.

5. What impact does arts education have on student engagement and motivation?

It captures students’ interest through hands-on, creative activities that connect with their personal experiences and passions. Engaging with the arts allows students to express themselves freely and see tangible results from their efforts, which boosts their confidence and enthusiasm for learning. Moreover, arts-integrated lessons often involve collaborative projects that foster a sense of teamwork and shared purpose, further motivating students to participate actively. It has a profound impact on student engagement and motivation by making learning more dynamic, interactive, and enjoyable.

6. How can children benefit from learning art?

Learning art helps children enhance their creativity and problem-solving skills. It also supports emotional expression and improves fine motor skills, contributing to their overall development. 

7. What are the five teaching strategies in teaching arts?

Five effective teaching strategies in art education include using visual aids, encouraging hands-on activities, integrating art with other subjects, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a supportive classroom environment.

8. What is the scope of art education?

The scope of art education includes teaching students various artistic techniques, styles, and cultural contexts. It encompasses activities like drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital media, aiming to develop students’ artistic skills and appreciation.

If you’re running a school and need to enhance teaching methods or introduce new technology, Varthana can assist. We process loans quickly, typically within 5 to 7 business days once we have all the necessary documents. We offer various collateral options and flexible repayment plans to meet your financial needs. Contact us today to see how Varthana can support your school’s progress!

9. What is the role of teachers in art education?

The role of a teacher in art education is to guide students through artistic techniques, inspire creativity, and provide constructive feedback. Teachers also create a supportive environment that encourages exploration and self-expression. If you’re a school leader looking to improve teaching methods and use modern technology, Varthana can help with your school’s development. We quickly process loans, usually within 5 to 7 business days after receiving all required documents. We also provide different collateral options and flexible payment plans to fit your financial needs. Reach out today to see how Varthana can support your school’s progress!

10. What is the nature of art education?

The nature of art education is experiential and exploratory, focusing on developing students’ artistic skills and creativity through practical activities. It emphasizes individual expression and understanding of various art forms and cultural perspectives.

11. What are the 7 fine arts?

The 7 fine arts are painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, theater, and literature. These art forms are valued for their beauty and ability to convey deep emotions and ideas.

12. What are the 7 different forms of art styles?

The 7 different art styles include realism, impressionism, expressionism, abstract, surrealism, cubism, and pop art. Each style has its own unique approach to representing subjects and expressing emotions.

13. What are the 7 most common elements of art?

The 7 most common elements of art are line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space. These elements are fundamental in creating and analyzing artworks, helping to understand how art is composed and interpreted.

The importance of art education in schools

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The Mind-Expanding Value of Arts Education

As funding for arts education declines worldwide, experts ponder what students — and the world at large — are losing in the process.

By Ginanne Brownell

This article is part of our special report on the Art for Tomorrow conference that was held in Florence, Italy.

Awuor Onguru says that if it were not for her continued exposure to arts education as a child, she never would have gotten into Yale University.

Growing up in a lower-middle-class family in Nairobi, Kenya, Ms. Onguru, now a 20-year-old junior majoring in English and French, started taking music lessons at the age of four. By 12, she was playing violin in the string quartet at her primary school, where every student was required to play an instrument. As a high school student on scholarship at the International School of Kenya, she was not only being taught Bach concertos, she also became part of Nairobi’s music scene, playing first violin in a number of local orchestras.

During her high school summer breaks, Ms. Onguru — who also has a strong interest in creative writing and poetry — went to the United States, attending the Interlochen Center for the Arts ’ creative writing camp, in Michigan, and the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio . Ms. Onguru, who recently returned to campus after helping organize Yale Glee Club’s spring tour in Kenya, hopes to become a journalist after graduation. She has already made progress toward that goal, serving as the opinion editor for the Yale Daily News, and getting her work published in Teen Vogue and the literary journal Menacing Hedge.

“Whether you’re in sports, whether you end up in STEM, whether you end up in government, seeing my peers — who had different interests in arts — not everyone wanted to be an artist,” she said in a video interview. “But they found places to express themselves, found places to be creative, found places to say things that they didn’t know how else to say them.”

Ms. Onguru’s path shows what a pivotal role arts education can play in a young person’s development. Yet, while the arts and culture space accounts for a significant amount of gross domestic product across the globe — in the United Kingdom in 2021, the arts contributed £109 billion to the economy , while in the U.S., it brought in over $1 trillion that year — arts education budgets in schools continue to get slashed. (In 2021, for instance, the spending on arts education in the U.K. came to an average of just £9.40 per pupil for the year .)

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6 Ways Visual Arts Boosts Student Success So You Can Advocate for Your Program

The arts are AWESOME! As art teachers, we know this at our core. Why should we keep the arts? What’s the point of art classes? Not everyone is going to be a professional artist. With sentiments like these, it can be hard to explain to stakeholders—like administrators, community businesses and organizations, parents, and even students—why all students need visual art.

We know your time is valuable so we did deep research. We uncovered fascinating academic data to support the positive effect the visual arts have on student success across the board. Let’s see how t hose hand turkeys and monster pinch-pots make more of a difference than most may think. 

Discover the impact of the visual arts on student success to help advocate for your program with confidence! 

Download this helpful one-page resource. Print it out and post it in a prominent spot in your art room. Use it as a tool when meeting with administrators and parents to spread the word on how powerful the arts are! While very comprehensive, this resource is only the tip of the iceberg! There are many more ways to elevate student achievement through art education .

Download Now!

1. Visual Arts education decreases absenteeism. 

Not only is art a favorite class for many students each day, but sometimes art is the prime reason why they choose to go to school each morning. Research backs this up and shows absentee rates are lower in students enrolled in at least one art class. Our art classes provide a much-needed break from traditional academic subjects as well as a creative outlet. When students find joy and personal expression within their school, they are more likely to attend regularly and actively participate. This increased engagement can also translate into better overall academic performance and a more positive attitude towards their education, which we’ll touch on later.

For instance, a study in Boston Public Schools found that students involved in the arts attended school more frequently. Plus, these students showed greater engagement than their peers not enrolled in an art class. This trend was particularly evident in students with IEPs or low standardized test scores . F urther studies reveal student participation in the arts leads to higher attendance rates, increased engagement, and lower dropout rates among students. 

The research and findings also call attention to the role of the arts in giving students socially and emotionally supportive learning environments , which in turn enhances the connection between schools and students . Plus, engagement in the arts leads to increased parent participation at schools. That annual art show you put sweat and tears into each spring means more than you know! 

2. Visual Arts education lowers suspension rates.

The impact of arts education on disciplinary outcomes highlights how creative expression fosters a positive school climate . Providing inclusive and supportive environments in the art room helps build solid student-teacher relationships , which are crucial for maintaining discipline within the school. 

Research shows that art education correlates with reduced suspension rates . Students interested and engaged in their courses are less likely to have out-of-school suspensions. According to data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health , students were 20% less likely to have an out-of-school suspension for each year of arts courses studied. Therefore, schools with more arts offerings are more likely to see reduced suspension rates and disciplinary infractions. Your administration can thank you for helping to decrease schoolwide behavior issues! 

3. Visual Arts education increases academic outcomes. 

Art research , creative problem-solving , and class critiques benefit your artists in and out of the art room . Because of the skills learned and reinforced in art, studies show the gains students achieved in core subjects like English and Math . Because text and visual literacy are such a natural connection, it makes sense that studies show significantly higher GPAs and reading scores in students enrolled in art electives. Additionally, findings show students in art courses, especially music, also experience higher levels of math achievement, specifically in developing cognitive skills . 

Even if students don’t pursue the arts professionally, there are plenty of reasons why we should keep and nurture the arts! On top of learning color theory or proper glazing techniques, (both of which have strong science cross-curricular connections ), the arts equip students with 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, innovation, and creativity! These are the skills that stick with students long after they leave our art rooms. 

4. Visual Arts education leads to a higher graduation rate. 

Increased attendance and decreased disciplinary action align with more students walking across the graduation stage! As discussed above, taking more art courses leads to higher attendance and retention rates. Studies show that students with more than the minimum required art credits are likelier to stay in school. Additionally, high school students with few or no art credits are five times more likely not to graduate . Students who extensively participate in art courses are more likely to belong to academic honors societies and are less likely to drop out of school. 

5. Visual Arts education correlates with college and career readiness. 

Elementary students with art experiences demonstrate greater engagement and higher college aspirations. Studies show that students participating in the arts are more likely to enroll in college, maintain strong GPAs, and take on leadership roles . Arts education promotes programs that foster flexibility, encourage risk-taking, and enhance social development . Studies even show that students with high school art experiences have academic and social advantages well into their twenties! 

6. Visual Arts education improves English learner progress.

Arts education significantly aids English learners in acquiring the language skills they need. Studies show that engaging in school arts programs enhances listening, writing, and speaking abilities through art-related discussions and activities. The visual arts help students naturally integrate   building their language skills through artmaking. When students have the opportunity to draw or create illustrations, it   relieves the pressure of speaking and provides another outlet to convey thoughts and ideas. Additionally, when students discuss and critique their artworks, it can also strengthen their communication skills . These activities require students to use descriptive language, expand vocabulary, and articulate thoughts and ideas. 

Art teachers have an important mission! Not only do we instill an appreciation of the arts in our students, but we also teach valuable 21st-century skills that support other content areas and college- and career-readiness. The art room is pivotal in building strong communication skills, especially for English language learners. Our art projects get students excited to come to school, increasing attendance and graduation rates. Plus, our rapport encourages students to feel safe, take risks, and stay engaged in positive behaviors across the board. All in all, the visual arts play a powerful role in boosting student success and achievement throughout their whole learning career. Now that’s something to celebrate and continue to advocate for!

What’s your favorite student success story from your art room?

Why do you think visual arts is essential for student achievement? 

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Kristina Brown

Kristina Brown, a high school art educator, is a current AOEU Writer. She is passionate about inquiry-based learning, student-centered art education, and creating a welcoming and engaging environment for students.

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Back to School with Arts Education

As families and educators ready children to go back to school, the National Endowment for the Arts recognizes the important role of the arts in educating, engaging, and empowering youth, while also supporting the social and emotional learning needs of students, helping them to succeed both in and out of school.

See below for more information on the benefits of arts education on wellness, resources that can support the advancement of arts education in communities across the country, and stories and interviews about the ways arts education can provide students with outlets for expression and growth, while also helping to close the opportunity gap and help all students thrive.

Arts Education and Student Wellness

Involvement in the arts can support the social and emotional learning needs of students, including teaching students how to manage their emotions and have compassion for others. The arts can also provide an outlet for students to process their emotions from disaster and trauma to begin the healing process and build resiliency, a key factor to successful transitions back to school. Explore the Arts Education Partnership’s ArtsEdSearch for recent studies on healing and wellness outcomes as well as blog posts discussing such topics as the connection between arts education and student wellness .

NEA Grants to Support Arts Education

The NEA’s arts education grant funding supports opportunities for students to participate in the arts in communities of all sizes across the country by

• providing opportunities for PreK to 12th-grade students to experience arts;
• ensuring educators, teaching artists, and school leaders have the necessary training in arts education to support student learning; and
• transforming schools and communities by providing access and engagement in the arts for all students through collective, systemic approaches.

Close to 75 percent of NEA-supported arts education projects engage underserved populations.

The NEA also provides research grants for arts education studies and supports Research Labs with an “Arts, Creativity, Cognition, and Learning” focus .

Using Data to Understand Access to Arts Education

Data can be a powerful way to understand what kinds of arts education opportunities are available in your community. The State Data Infrastructure Project for Arts Education , a free resource from the NEA and the Education Commission of the States, provides tools to help states and their partners extract, analyze, and report on data about arts education. Funding is available through the NEA to support arts education data systems.

Advancing Arts Education through the Arts Education Partnership

The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is a national network of more than 250 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education. AEP has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education since 1995 and is administered by Education Commission of the States. AEP is the nation’s hub for arts and education leaders, building their leadership capacity to support students, educators, and learning environments. Through research, reports, convenings, and counsel, leaders gain knowledge and insights to ensure that all learners receive an excellent arts education.

NEA Arts Education Initiatives

In addition to AEP, the NEA supports national arts education initiatives that seek to engage students from across the country through a variety of artistic disciplines.

The 2024-2025 school year marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud , a free arts education program and dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students. A partnership among the NEA, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Schools and organizations are encouraged to contact their Poetry Out Loud state coordinator to get involved in this year’s competition.

As of August 1, 2024, submissions are open for the 2024-2025 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students . An initiative of the NEA in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is opportunity for high school students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be a part of a musical theater production. There are multiple free virtual workshops leading up to the submission deadline, January 31, 2025. Head to namt.org/challenge for more information. 

Shakespeare in American Communities , a partnership between the NEA and Arts Midwest, provides grants of up to $25,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants support performances and workshops in schools and in the justice system. Application guidelines for the 2025-2026 cycle will be available later this fall on the Arts Midwest website .

Featured Arts Education Stories

Back to School Grant Spotlight: Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA)

In January 2024, VCA received an Arts Endowment grant to support the work of Vashon Artists in Schools (VAIS), a collaborative program with the Vashon Island School District that offers year-round K-12 classroom residencies led by professional artists across various artistic and expressive disciplines. We spoke with VAIS program manager Johnson Blomgren about the impact of the VAIS program, her advice for teachers who want to implement the arts in their lessons, and the importance of community arts programming for everyone.

Embracing Your Voice: A Conversation with 2024 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Niveah Glover

Under a flutter of confetti with the opening beat of The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” swelling around her, Niveah Glover was named our 2024 Poetry Out Loud National Champion on May 2nd, the first from Florida to win the Finals competition in the program’s 19-year history. A few days after winning the National Finals, we sat down with Glover via video conference to talk about her reaction to the big night, writing her own poetry (did we mention she was also runner-up in this year’s Poetry Ourselves written competition?), and what advice she has for future Poetry Out Loud participants.

Podcast: Shanna Lin, Director of the Paterson Music Project (PMP)

Shanna Lin, teaching artist and director of the Paterson Music Project (PMP), gives us the program's history: it’s an El Sistema-inspired program established in 2013 with 32 second-graders that now serves more than 500 students from 25 schools in Paterson, New Jersey. PMP offers after-school programs four days a week and on Saturdays, including string orchestra, concert band, guitar, jazz, hand drumming, keyboard, and choir, and provides instruments to students at no cost. We discuss the principles of El Sistema, which started in Venezuela about 50 years ago as a social impact program and uses music education to teach discipline, teamwork, and community building.

Our Town Grant Spotlight: Ancient Art in New Contexts

Musician Devesh Chandra began learning to play the tabla — Indian hand drums — at age three, learning the sounds of Northern Indian classical music from his mother, renowned sitarist Veena Chandra. Today, Devesh and Veena are both working musicians and educators, serving as artist associates at Williams College in Massachusetts, collaborating with musicians of all genres, and performing across the United States and abroad. Recently, they have brought their talents to smaller, less traditional venues in New York state: Schenectady School District classrooms. The Chandras have been visiting elementary, middle, and high schools in the district for the past year to share their music with students, many of whom have cultural ties to Indian music and art.

Grant Spotlight: The Possibility Project

Established in 2001 by Founder and President Paul G. Griffin and a dedicated network of New York City youth, parents, educators, artists, and community organizers, The Possibility Project emerged in response to the diminishing opportunities for youth to engage in artistic expression, bridge cultural divides, and make their voices heard. Currently, The Possibility Project offers in-person and virtual programs that serve over 100 New York City youth. Christina Calfo, director of development at The Possibility Project, spoke with us about the Foster Care Performing Arts Program’s upcoming musical theater production and the role of the arts in empowering and positively transforming youth to creatively and impactfully tell their stories.

Podcast: Emmett Phillips, Poet, Hip-Hop Artist, Actor, and Teaching Artist

Emmett Phillips is a hip-hop artist, actor, poet, and teaching artist based in Des Moines, Iowa. In this podcast, Phillips shares his journey from his early days in hip-hop through his time in the military to becoming a teaching artist who empowers youth through the arts, specifically hip-hop. He discusses hip-hop as a cultural movement that uplifts people, amplifies the voices of the oppressed, and expresses ideas and values with creativity and style. He also talks about his personal growth through hip-hop and how it inspired him to become a teaching artist, helping students find their voices and build confidence.

Back to School Grant Spotlight: In Progress

Filmmaker and teaching artist Kristine Sorensen has collaborated with the Bug O Nay Ge Shig School on the Leech Lake Reservation for decades. This year, she will be teaching children whose parents worked with her when they were students. Sorensen is one of the founders and current executive director of In Progress, a digital media nonprofit that conducts programming across Minnesota, with studios in Saint Paul and Crookston, a small town in the northwestern part of the state. At the Bug O Nay Ge Shig School, In Progress facilitates Living Histories, a digital arts and storytelling project that integrates digital arts platforms and tools into classroom curriculums.

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