Why Arts Education is Important
Arts education is crucial to developing skills needed in the 21st century workforce. The latest Otis Creative Economy report indicates that the creative industries are the second largest business sector in the Los Angeles region, generating nearly 1 million jobs. Students are currently not being adequately prepared to step into these jobs in large part because of the lack of arts education in the K-12 public school curriculum, which should be of grave concern to anyone interested in a thriving economy.
The California Alliance for Arts Education found that arts education helps prepare students for the globally competitive workforce by developing the ability to innovate, communicate and collaborate. Arts education in schools increases test scores across every subject area, lowers dropout rates and helps close the achievement gap regardless of socioeconomic status.
A 2005 Harris Poll showed 93% of Americans consider the arts to be vital to providing a well-rounded education for children and a critical link to learning and success.
Perhaps most relevant as we look at the immediate academic success of our students, Dr. Shirley Brice Heath at Stanford University discovered that young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:
- 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement,
- 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair,
- 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance, and
- 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.
Simply put, the majority of people consider the arts a vital part of public education; the arts fuel our local economy; and we have evidence that arts education helps students excel in school.