Benefits of Fine Arts

In response to questions about the benefits of Fine Arts experiences in the development of our students, below you will find a collection of links to articles, research studies and other materials describing these benefits in the opinions of a wide array of people and professions. Of course the value and the power of the Arts is intrinsically worthwhile, but as you will read, those benefits extend to other areas such as academic performance, brain development, enhancement of multiple intelligences and social, emotional and behavioral performance. The sharing of these resources is not an endorsement of every assertion or methodology, but to the best of our ability,  these resources support what we believe as a fine arts team based on our personal experience as professional educators. Have a question or reaction to something you read here? Let us know!

Studies Link the Arts to Crucial Cognitive Skills with short video from the George Lucas Educational Foundation. "It’s easy to forget that drawing, music, and dancing are ancient forms of expression. They were present in our earliest communities, even when, as a species, we had almost no margin for error. So, what happens to our brains on art? Why do we engage in it at all? New studies reveal that the arts may prime our neural circuitry for a much broader range of activities, boosting crucial cognitive and social functions like focus, spoken and written language, self-control, and empathy." 

Creative Employees Are the Most Sought After, and Here’s Why "Creativity has stood out as the main pillar that most contemporary employers and companies look for when seeking to expand their team. According to a recent IBM study surveying 1,500 executives, creativity was determined to rank as the number one factor- above management, integrity, and vision- contributing to a business's success. As such, students looking to enter their prospective job field, no matter the industry, should focus on enhancing their creative aptitude to ensure that they qualify as top candidates when seeking employment after graduation." The impact of AI and the need for creativity - "From self-driving cars to digital assistants, the rise of AI is changing the way the modern world and workforce function. As new tech developments alter the landscape of today's workplace, employers- and employees themselves- are witnessing the mass effects of computer intelligence. Robots are continuously taking the reins of process-driven jobs that involve repeatable tasks, leaving companies to search for employees who can think of new, better ideas and solutions. As such, soft skills are emerging as the new necessity, and creativity is claiming its competitive advantage for employees looking to distinguish themselves as quality job candidates." - Tulane University

Number One Soft Skill Employers Seek: Creativity "In its recently released Global Talent Trends 2019 report, LinkedIn cited soft skills as vitally important for career success. At the top of the list? Creativity. And it's no wonder. Creativity is the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly disparate things, and to generate innovative solutions. When you're creative, you're able to turn new and imaginative ideas into reality. From Branson and Ferris to Spielberg and Jobs, business leaders say creativity in the workplace is essential."  -Amy Blaschka,  Forbes

The Contribution of the Arts to Medicine "Medical schools are discovering that teaching the arts to medical students helps them sharpen their observational skills and teach them to be more empathetic. Empathy is “the ability to be aware of the feelings and emotions of other people.” Empathy is not the same as sympathy which is “feeling for someone.” You need empathy to understand patients. The arts help make medical students become more thoughtful and listen carefully to a patient's narrative of his/her symptoms, and this allows doctors to make a more informed diagnosis. Open communication between the doctor and patient helps the patient to understand his illness and comply with treatment."  -Rachel Hajar, M.D. - National Library of Medicine

The Importance of Creativity in Business "When you think of creativity, job titles such as graphic designer or marketer may come to mind. Yet, creativity and innovation are important across all industries because business challenges require inventive solutions."  -Michael Boyles, Harvard Business School

Music Achievement's Academic Perks Hold Up Under Scrutiny In summary, a college music education/music therapy professor attempted to debunk the accepted studies that have continually affirmed a link between the study of music and improved academic performance. The study attempted to remove most of the variables that may skew findings (socioeconomic variances, parent level of education, reduced/free lunch, etc...). The result was that the link was shown to be stronger than previously thought, especially evidenced by removing the variables.

Theatre's Role in Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis 

Benefits of Theatre Education - Improved academic performance, standardized test scores, attendance in school, reading comprehension  and more!

Tracing links between Musical Training and executive function — and bolstering the case for music in schools. (Harvard Graduate School of Education)

Building a better brain through music, dance and poetry

The Importance of Keeping the Beat - Researchers link ability to keep a beat to reading and language skills

Beat synchronization predicts neural speech encoding and reading readiness in preschoolers

Cultivating Empathy through Music, Art, and Theatre

25 Life Skills Learned in Theatre

Studies Link the Arts to Crucial Cognitive Skills

Arts Integration in School: 10 Reasons Why It’s Important

CAN ATHLETES BENEFIT FROM LEARNING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?