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10.22.2013

10 Reasons to Support the Arts

From AmericaForTheArts.org

1. True prosperity . . . The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts help us express our values, build bridges between cultures, and bring us together regardless of ethnicity, religion, or age. When times are tough, art is salve for the ache.

2. Improved academic performance . . . Students with an education rich in the arts have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, lower drop-out rates, and even better attitudes about community service—
benefits reaped by students regardless of socio-economic status. Students with four years of arts or music in high school average 100 points better on their SAT scores than students with one-half year or less.

3. Arts are an Industry . . . Arts organizations are responsible businesses, employers, and consumers. Nonprofit arts organizations generate $135 billion in economic activity annually, supporting 4.1 million jobs and generating $22.3 billion in government revenue. Investment in the arts supports jobs, generates tax revenues, promotes tourism, and advances our creativity-based economy.

4. Arts are good for local merchants . . . The typical arts attendee spends $24.60 per person, per event, not including the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters. Attendees who live outside the county in which the arts event takes place spend twice as much as their local counterparts ($39.96 vs. $17.42)—valuable revenue for local businesses and the community.

5. Arts are the cornerstone of tourism . . . Arts travelers are ideal tourists—they stay longer and spend more. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the percentage of international travelers including museum visits on their trip has increased from 17 to 23 percent since 2003, while the share attending concerts and theater performances increased from 13 to 16 percent (only 7 percent include a sports event).

6. Arts are an export industry . . . U.S. exports of arts goods (e.g., movies, paintings, jewelry) grew to $64 billion in 2010, while imports were just $23 billion—a $41 billion arts trade surplus in 2010.

7. Building the 21st Century workforce . . . Reports by the Conference Board show creativity is among the top 5 applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 percent saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. The biggest creativity indicator? A college arts degree. Their Ready to Innovate report concludes, “…the arts—music, creative writing, drawing, dance—provide skills sought by employers of the 3rd millennium.”

8. Healthcare . . . Nearly one-half of the nation’s healthcare institutions provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78 percent deliver these programs because of their healing benefits to patients—shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication.

9. Stronger communities . . . University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a high concentration of the arts in a city leads to higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower poverty rates. A vibrant arts community ensures that young people are not left to be raised solely in a pop culture and tabloid marketplace.

10. Creative Industries . . . The Creative Industries are arts businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and design companies. An analysis of Dun & Bradstreet data counts 905,689 businesses in the U.S. involved in the creation or distribution of the arts that employ 3.35 million people—representing 4.4 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of all employees, respectively (get a Creative Industry report for your community here).

Updated: March 2013

Why Art?

Take just a moment to see how Art affects your world.  I am not just referring to Crayons and Tacky Glue, but Art as a whole.  Let me get you started....

You woke this morning...

  • Turned off your alarm (music)
  • Picked out clothes to put on (fashion design)
  • Chose a coffee cup (pottery)
  • Enjoyed a quick breakfast (culinary arts)
  • Opened your newspaper (graphic design)
  • Watched the news (videography)
  • On your couch (interior design)
...and we haven't even left your home yet.

Art is everywhere and, whether we realize it or not, we all crave it and appreciate artistic excellence when we see it.  Artists are people that make a lasting impact on you and your life.  Here are just a few examples:

  • The orator, experienced in public speaking, that combines dramatic storytelling with visual graphics to illustrate ideas that seem to reach out and grab you.
  • The musician who gives life to the silent whispers of your soul.
  • The writer who captivates you so much that, when the sun begins to rise on your sleepless night, you still can't release the book in your hands. 
  • The photographer that stops time to draw you into a captured moment and shows you far more than you could ever see alone.
  • The painter who combines colors and brush strokes, creating an image that forces you to stop and consider what the canvas holds.
  • The actor who brings you into a story and makes you feel as if you are a part of the experience on stage.
We all know that a drawing can transform a piece of paper into a masterpiece, but can you imagine what that process does for the artist?  Having the ability to create is one of the most empowering things we will experience in life.  Fortunately, it is an experience available to everyone.

Art has the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.  Think about it...really think about it.  The value for so much in our lives depends upon the Arts.  Art is the tool needed to reveal the full potential of this beautiful life and it should be celebrated, appreciated, and encouraged all day, every day.

Why not start right now?