Four thought provoking articles about art education

As an art studio, we are passionate about the power that creating art has to shape lives. The ability to tap into one’s creativity has far-reaching influences, not only in education but in much of daily life. Used not just when “making art”, these benefits - ingenuity, confidence to think outside the box, making connections between seemingly disparate objects, and yes, an appreciation and understanding of beauty and design - color how one interacts with the world.

Here are four articles that we have come across recently that have gotten us thinking. Please share with us anything you have come across that you have found thought provoking as well – we’d love to start a dialogue.

1. Childhood Creativity Leads to Innovation in Adulthood: Researchers link arts and crafts in childhood to financial success in adulthood.

This article focuses on a study at Michigan State, following students who had consistently taken art classes (from early childhood through age 14). “The most interesting finding was the importance of sustained participation in those activities,” said Rex LaMore, director of MSU’s Center for Community and Economic Development.

Read more in the article about the things that were learned form this study.

http://www.psychologytoday.stfi.re/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/childhood-creativity-leads-innovation-in-adulthood?sf=ezpjra&utm_content=buffer557b4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

2. 7 Leadership Skills Fostered in Arts Education.

We love this list, which includes “Understanding the Power of Myth and Symbols” and “Project Planning”, as well “Learning to be Yourself”. Check out the article for more great insights on leadership skills art education provides.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-leadership-skills-fostered-arts-education-stacey-goodman

3. What’s the state of the arts in New Jersey’s public-school classrooms today?

This article from September 2105 looks at how NJ public schools are faring in terms of the arts. There’s good (97 percent of all students have access to classes on the fine arts, music or drama), bad (concerns about PARCC testing cutting into arts time) and ugly (one in five New Jersey schools doesn’t offer both music and visual arts, as required by the state). Read about more in this report from the recent Arts Education Summit.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/09/28/what-s-the-state-of-the-arts-in-new-jersey-s-classrooms-today/

4. STEM vs. STEAM: Do the Arts Belong?

Surprisingly, it’s not a slam-dunk to include the arts! There are arguments both for and against adding Art into the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) in this article.

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/11/18/ctq-jolly-stem-vs-steam.html?cmp=eml-enl-tu-mostpop

To see more art projects for kids, please see our blog:http://hellokidsart.com/

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