Last week I had the opportunity to hear Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Rocco Landesman, speak about his work at the NEA up to this point. Landesman talked about one of his key messages at the NEA: Art Works. From the NEA Art Works Blog, “Art works on and within people to change and inspire them; it addresses the need people have to create, to imagine, to aspire to something more.”
The recent article posted below, from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Newsroom, Arts and Culture Play a Formidable Role in Child Learning and Development, speaks directly to the benefit of an education in the arts. Simply put, art works.
Arts and Culture Play Formidable Role in Child Learning and Development
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust NewsroomArmando Contreras Jr. was in the Phoenix Boys Choir for eight influential years. His father, Armando Sr., credits his choir experiences with shaping him into a young man who was ready for life, learning and conscientious adulthood.
“His journey was profound and exceptional,” said Armando Sr. “As a result of this musical experience, he was accepted to six of the best universities in the country.”
The 200 boys ages seven to 15 who are part of the Boys Choir each year receive training in voice, music theory, history and performance. But it’s not all song. The Boys Choir also aims to develop character, discipline, leadership, global awareness and a commitment to excellence.
Americans know the importance of arts and culture for children—97 percent believe that arts and culture are vital to a well-rounded education. And there’s proof.
Acquisition of Basic Skills
According to the study, Critical Evidence: How the ARTS Benefit Student Achievement,certain forms of arts instruction enhance and complement the acquisition of basic skills:–The relationship between drama and the development of literacy skills among young children is well documented.
–Involvement in music is shown to relate directly to high school math proficiency.
–The study of dance and visual arts can enhance cognitive skills, reasoning ability, perception, imagination, inventiveness, creativity, problem-solving skills and expression.“Piper’s approach has been to support arts and culture learning experiences for children in out-of-school settings,” said Carol Kratz, Piper Trust program director.
Piper Trust funded the Heard Museum’s “Every Picture Tells a Story,” an approach to basic skills using visual art elements to explain native history and culture. The Trust also has helped launch the award-winning Children’s Museum in its historic Monroe School building. The Trust has supported digital education for children at the Desert Botanical Garden and Artville at the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa. And recently the Trust contributed to Arizona Science Center’s “The Future of Education Is Science” campaign to help revitalize hands-on learning experiences for children.
Impact on Child’s Identity
“It’s very important for communities to support arts and cultural experiences,” said Laura Martin, director of science interpretation at the Arizona Science Center. Martin, a PhD in child development, is adamant that exposure to arts and cultural experiences influence children’s identity and the choices they make.“It exposes them to a diversity of ideas and original thought,” Martin noted. “Business and professional organizations are looking for employees who can think outside the box, a much needed skill in our Society that arts and culture organizations cultivate.”
Certain arts activities also promote growth in positive social skills, including self-confidence, self-control, conflict resolution, collaboration, empathy and social tolerance.
“When children work in an arts environment I see the creation of social bonds that will help them later communicate and work with others in society,” said Deborah Gilpin, president and CEO of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.
Arts and culture also nurture a motivation to learn by emphasizing active engagement, disciplined and sustained attention, persistence and risk-taking. The arts and culture help create the kind of learning environment conducive to innovation and success.
Conducive to Success
The Grammy-award winning Phoenix Boys Choir focuses on building dependable young men. As choir executive director Dick Bowers says, “They practice twice a week, so there’s a rigor in their life, and certain things they stay away from,” explains Bowers. “They are choir boys for usually about five years, but part of adult society for another 80 or so. We launch kids into responsible adulthood.”Armando Contreras Jr. is one success story. His proud father took him across the country to visit the acclaimed schools where the young man had been accepted. Young Armando decided on a music career and just entered The Cleveland Conservatory where he will study opera.
