Why the arts are important to a community

Art is a form of communication . Art is a form of expression . Art is a medium powerful enough to give the Artist a distinct voice without having to utter a word . It is much easier to come up with reasons why a community should appreciate Art , than it is to come up with reasons that Art has no place in our schools or communities . I 'm certain there are people who think they don 't appreciate Art , or that Art has no immediate relevance in their lives , but there is not one area of

any of our lives that are not affected by Art . From the paint that covers the walls of our dwelling places , to the chairs that we sit in to eat with man created utensils , Art is present

Any creative idea is a form of Art whether that idea is to create a computer , or the invention of Artificial lighting . Thinking in and of itself is a creative process . Any type of creation is Art . You don 't have to be religious to believe in the power of Art , but if you are then you will appreciate the belief that if we come from God , the ultimate creator , and we are made in His image , how can we not be Artists or affected by Art ? We ARE Art

Art is a method of sharing a part of the human spirit . What we fail to do with words , we do with pictures , sculptures or motion pictures . We feel validated , vindicated and rejuvenated when we see a part of ourselves in others . Art is necessary then , for us to see our connectivity one to the other . Art helps us to fulfill this human need For without such validation , we would feel quite alone and misunderstood . Yet through Art , we are uplifted and inspired

Research shows that Art in the form of music has a positive impact on both math and reading . This is good news at a time when No Child Left Behind laws have all but pushed Art completely out every part of the school curriculum . Unfortunately , for some low-income schools that have given up the Arts in favor of more traditional math and reading instruction , the benefits of music would actually complement the efforts to raise scores in Reading and Math

Finally , Art teaches us the importance of having a vision . Without a vision , growth is stagnant . Whether Art helps us to enjoy our homes or work places more , simply by putting paintings on the walls , or adding color here and there , whether we enjoy a book or magazine or a musical instrument , we benefit from Art . Supporting the Arts in one way to inspire the next generation of Artist as they prepare to share with us and inspire us in ways that we are yet able to imagine...