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 generate one out of six jobs in LA County. In order to prepare LA County public school students to contribute to the creative economy, quality arts education is imperative.

Arts education helps prepare students for the workforce by developing skills needed to successfully compete for any job: communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. Studies show that arts education also increases test scores across every subject area, lowers dropout rates and helps close the achievement gap regardless of socioeconomic status. Students in school with arts education also show increased political and community engagement later in life.

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:

3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance

4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement

4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair

4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

Spreading the word about the importance of arts education? Share this handout about the benefits of creating pathways to creative occupations.