the arts help
build strong communities
the arts
positively impact education
“Through engagement with the arts, young people can better begin lifelong journeys of developing their capabilities and contributing to the world around them. The arts teach young people how to learn by giving them the first step: the desire to learn.”
- Richard Riley
Secretary, Department of Education, 1999
President’s Committee on the Arts and
Humanities
Study
after study proves that students who are highly involved in the arts outperform
their “arts-poor” counterparts by almost every measure. This data cuts
across socio-economic boundaries and is true for every arts discipline.
In fact, sustained participation in the arts correlates strongly with success
in math and reading scores.
Students
of the arts continue to outperform their non-arts peers on the SAT, according
to reports by the College Entrance Examination Board. In 2002, SAT takers
with coursework or experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on
the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than
students with no coursework or experience in the arts. Scores for those with
coursework in music appreciation were 64 points higher on the verbal and 43
points higher on the math portion.
The
benefits of comprehensive arts education are proven in both the traditional
school day environment and in extra-curricular or “outside” arts education
settings. Regardless of the environment, students who receive high levels
of arts instruction earn higher scores on measures of creative thinking than
students with lower levels of arts instruction.
The arts provide
children and teens with authentic, engaging and meaningful multi-sensorial
learning experiences. These experiences regularly engage multiple skills
and abilities and differ to most classroom experiences which focus on the
development of individual skills. Therefore, by participating in the
arts, students develop cognitive, social and inter-personal skills and come to
understand that thinking and learning are about more than “knowing the answer”.
The arts
are also a way of reaching students who are not otherwise engaged in school,
either because they do not fit into conventional classroom behaviors or
settings (labeled as “problem” students) or because they have outgrown
established learning environments and have become bored or complacent.
For these students the arts can offer a bridge to learning, more engaging
challenges and an understanding that learning is a reward in itself and is a
lifelong process that promises greater rewards than high test scores and grade
point averages.
The arts
can also show young people - when they work side-by-side with adult artists,
teachers and mentors - habits and practices that will prepare them for a
successful future in their adult workplaces. They learn that ideas
matter. The ability to think up ideas, bring them to life and communicate
them to others is what will help in their future careers.
the arts
improve our quality of life
In 2005,
the City of
There are many
factors that go into the publication’s annual review of great American
cities. Chief among them are population statistics like income, growth
and real-estate appreciation. Other factors include high education
scores, employment, taxes and crime. But also important in their analyses
is the availability of arts resources, arts and leisure programming and arts
education.
Also on
the list, was
Having
arts programming, education and events available as part of the fabric of
everyday life, makes communities more vibrant, more engaging, and more
interesting places to live. Communities that become known for fostering
the arts attract no only visitors, but new residents and homeowners.
Often these newcomers are high-income “information age” workers who place a
high value on community amenities and quality of life issues.
Related
links: Money
Magazine August 2005 “Top 100 Places to Live” On-Line Article and Solon
Center for the Arts
the arts affect
our health and well-being
“As I watch people move through our arts programs, learning new skills, discovering new parts of themselves, finding creative ways of expressing their perceptions, I have no doubt about it - art heals. The arts provide preventative and integrative approaches to healthcare, building self-esteem and a sense of identity and belonging, connecting people and celebrating life. All these things are part of an individual's healing process.”
- Susan Perlstein
Elders Share the Arts,
In 1998 a project called The Creative Centers Hospital
Artist-In-Residence Program began with the mission of bringing art making
experiences to patients’ bedsides in
A
year-long study was conducted of this program in 2000/2001, thanks to a grant
from the United Hospital Fund. This study evaluated the outcomes of the
program and satisfaction levels of both patients and caregivers.
What was found was that not only did the involvement in art-making
ease the pain, anxiety, loneliness, fatigue and discomfort of patients’
illnesses and treatments, but that it helped nurses and doctors do their jobs
better. They were able to connect with patients who were otherwise
non-responsive or uncommunicative. In some cases, patients were more
willing to talk about treatment options and/or responded better to treatment
after participating in the program.
One can
deduce from this study that the arts aided in these patients’ healing
processes.
In 2004 a review
of studies published since 1990 looked at 385 medical research papers.
The aim of this review was to determine the influence and effects of the arts
on health. The findings were that the arts and humanities have a positive
impact on clinical outcomes, mental healthcare, staff morale and job
satisfaction.
According
to the review, studies show clear and reliable evidence that measurable
positive clinical outcomes are achieved through arts interventions. For
example: encouraging people to attend cultural events has a positive effect on
blood pressure and hormone levels. Relaxing music has a beneficial effect
on anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, immune response and pain
perception. Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, who listen to 20 minutes of
their favorite music each day, report a major reduction in their perception of
pain.
The use of
the arts in mental healthcare, improves relationships between patients,
families and providers. Patients learn new ways to express themselves, develop
creative skills and develop a better sense of self-esteem. Also, various
forms of visual art and music have been proven to improve the quality of life
for those patients with dementia.
In the
general population, arts programs create positive, invigorating and
life-sustaining activities that help make human connections. When people come
together to see, discuss, share, question and appreciate ideas, the processes
of exploration and creativity establish and deepen caring community
relationships. In a caring, connected community, people are more likely
to stay active, engaged and healthy.
a strong arts
scene attracts businesses and visitors
“Cultural activities attract tourists and spur the creation of ancillary facilities such as restaurants, hotels, and the services needed to support them. Cultural facilities and events enhance property values, tax resources, and overall profitability for communities. In doing so, the arts become a direct contributor to urban and rural revitalization.”
-
National Governors Association
“The Role of the Arts in Economic
Development” 2001
In a past
survey conducted by the Joint Legislative Committee on Cultural Affairs, 99% of
the chief executive officers who were questioned stated that the availability
of cultural activities in an area is an important consideration in choosing new
locations.
In 2001, the Travel Industry Association of America
conducted a survey of adult travelers with the purpose of determining the
length of time that travelers extend their trips because of cultural activities
or events and determining the economic impact of their behavior.
According to the results, sixty-five percent of the 146.4
million
Of these travelers, 35.3 million adults (33%) said that a
specific arts, cultural or heritage event or activity influenced their choice
of destination.
Of the group that extended their trip because of arts and
culture, 57 percent extended their trip one or more nights.
Travelers who included cultural events on their trips
differ from other
Spent more: $631 vs.
$457
Were older: 48 vs. 46
Were more likely to be
retired: 20% vs. 16%
Were more likely to
have a graduate degree: 23% vs. 20%
Used a hotel, motel, or
B & B: 62% vs. 56%
Were more likely to
spend $1,000+: 18% vs. 12%
Traveled longer: 5.2
nights vs. 4.1 nights
Traveled by air: 22%
vs. 18%
Were more likely to
shop: 44% vs. 33%
the arts help
drive the economy
“Nonprofit
arts organizations in the
- Mayor
Bart Peterson,
Arts,
Parks, Entertainment & Sports Committee,
The
nonprofit arts are an important generator of economic prosperity in the
The impact
of this spending is far reaching: arts organizations pay their employees, purchase
supplies, contract for services, and acquire assets within local
communities. These actions, then, have a direct positive impact:
supporting local jobs, creating household income, and generating revenue to
local, state, and federal governments.
This
spending also causes what is called an indirect or “multiplier” effect.
The dollars spent within communities are, in turn, spent on local goods and
services by related business and individuals.
Unlike most industries, nonprofit arts organizations leverage
significant amounts of event-related spending by their audiences.
Attendance at arts events generates related commerce for local businesses such
as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores.
Spending
by nonprofit arts organizations supports 4.9 million jobs… a greater percentage
of the
resources
Arts & Economic Prosperity: The Economic Impact
of Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Their Audiences, 2001
Americans for the Arts (Funded by
American Express and the National Endowment for the Arts)
How Art Economically Benefits Cities, 2006
Project for Public Spaces
Economic Impact of Non-Local Arts & Culture
Consumers, 2004
Community Partnership for Arts and
Culture (in partnership with the Cypress Research Group and the Greater
Cleveland Growth Association)
Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student
Academic and Social Development, 2002
Arts
Education Partnership
Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on
Learning, 1999
Arts Education Partnership and The President’s Committee
on the Arts and the Humanities
Satisfaction and Outcomes Assessment: Hospital
Artist-in-Residence Program of the
KCI Research and Evaluation
Really Caring: Why a comprehensive healthcare system
includes the arts
Susan Perlstein, High Performance #74, Winter 1996
Arts in Health: A review of the medical literature, 2004
Dr. Rosalia Lelchuk Staricoff, Arts Council