Art of education It makes mark on schools, state

October is Arts and Humanities Month—a month dedicated to the importance of culture in America and to encouraging Americans to indulge in the artistic endeavors they most enjoy while discovering new passions along the way. By taking a month to focus on the arts and what they mean to our community, we hope to spur a lifelong love affair between Arkansans and the arts.

The arts are an integral part of a healthy, interesting and authentic community. Even though it’s not always obvious, they have a profound effect on everything from education to economy to overall quality of life.

Most people readily see the importance of arts education. Studies show that participation in arts programs leads to improved performance both in classes and on standardized tests—even in math and reading—as well as lowered school dropout rates. The effect of the arts on the cognitive development of children is profound, helping them develop longer attention spans and better memory retrieval. The arts also ignite a part of the brain linked to creativity and innovation— qualities that are important to helping students become successful, contributing, forward-thinking individuals in any career they pursue.

One of the most exciting aspects of arts education is how it positively affects students across all socioeconomic categories. The learning language of art speaks to every child regardless of who they are or where they’re from.

The impact of the arts on the economy is another benefit that cannot be ignored. More than just pretty paintings or poignant performances, the arts contribute $166.2 billion a year to the U.S. economy.

The Arkansas Arts Council awarded $1.56 million to 434 Arkansas organizations in the 2015 fiscal year. That investment led to total arts-industry expenditures of $85 million that support 2,525 full-time jobs in Arkansas, generating $3.9 million for local governments and $4.8 million for state government.

This investment in community arts and educational activities is funded by state general and special revenue, private foundation grants, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Finally, art is representative of human perspective and emotion. By exposing ourselves to it, we learn about those in our community who have different views and come from different backgrounds. Art helps us come to appreciate the different threads that make up the beautiful tapestry of our culture.

Additionally, studies have shown that the benefits of a strong arts presence in communities are myriad, ranging from improved self-esteem in at-risk youth to promoting healing in hospitals to increased neighborhood pride and lower crime rates.

In Arkansas, we live in a hotbed of creativity, craftsmanship and artistic beauty. All around us are opportunities to observe Arts and Humanities Month.

Go see a show at your local theater, take a painting or pottery class, purchase a new piece of art for your home or tour a world-class exhibit and share your experiences on social media using our Authentic-Arkansas hashtag, one way we’re showcasing the offerings of our various agencies and weaving those into the story of our state as a whole.

Patrons and educators may also choose to attend ArtLinks—a statewide conference held by the Arkansas Arts Council. This year’s theme—“Create. Advocate. Educate.”—is centered around helping conference-goers spread the joy of the arts with the rest of the state while also indulging their desire to pursue art for the sake of art. The conference will take place October 25-27 in Springdale and Bentonville. More information on ArtLinks can be found at ArkansasArts.org.

During this Arts and Humanities Month, I hope every Arkansan will enjoy an artistic endeavor. A strong arts presence brings numerous wonderful gains to society, but the most awe-inspiring benefit of the arts is its ability to transcend socioeconomic status, political views, appearances and more to bring communities together and help them prosper.