Current studies have shown that involvement in the arts helps kids increase test scores and promotes academic achievement, increases self confidence, and keeps them out of trouble.

Kids who are involved in the arts:

• Participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently as children who aren’t
• Read for pleasure nearly twice as often as children who aren’t
• Perform community service more than four times as often as children who aren’t

The facts are that arts education:

• Makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has been proven to help level the “learning field” across socio-economic boundaries
• Has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also programs targeted toward delinquency prevention
• Strengthens student problem-solving and critical thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success
• Helps students develop a sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal-setting—skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond
• Can help troubled youth, providing an alternative to destructive behavior and another way for students to approach learning
• Provides another opportunity for parental, community, and business involvement with schools, including arts and humanities organizations
• Helps all students develop more appreciation and understanding of the world around them
• Helps students develop a positive work ethic and pride in a job well done

Arts and the Transfer of Learning

The ‘Transfer of Learning’ is a term to used to describe a the science of learning through the arts. It is a neuro-function that includes the cultivation of capabilities and understandings that occur as “byproducts” or “co-developments” of the changes in the brain brought about by experiences in the arts.

Arts learning and experiences, to varying degrees, reorganize neural pathways (aka: the way the brain functions). Extended and or deep learning in the arts reinforces these developments. The development and re-organization of brain function, due to learning in the arts, impacts how and how well the brain processes other tasks. In short, current neurological research demonstrates that experiences in the arts create capabilities or motivations that show up in ‘non-arts’ capabilities.

Economic Development

The United States Conference of Mayors supports the findings of the Arts & Economic Prosperity study and urges mayors across the country to invest in nonprofit arts organizations through their local arts agencies as a catalyst to generate economic impact, stimulate business development, spur urban renewal, attract tourists and area residents to community activities, and to improve the overall quality of life in America’s cities.

The arts engine accounts for $166 billion in economic activity every year, generating:
• 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs
• $104.2 billion in household income
• $7.9 billion in local government tax revenues
• $9.1 billion in state government tax revenues
• $12.6 billion in federal income tax revenues

Investing in the Arts

•  Increased funding in the arts invests in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development, and drives a creativity-based economy.
•  Investment in non-profit arts generates a spectacular 7:1 return on investment. For every $1 of public support invested in the arts, $7 are invested in private support.
•  The arts create an immediate impact — every dollar of arts funding goes to work immediately creating jobs, attracting investment, generating tax revenue, and stimulating local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.
•  The performing arts draw more attendance than sports. 70% of Americans attend at least one performing arts event per year versus 53% that attend one sports event.
• A strong arts and culture sector and a creative workforce attract and keep businesses in the community – it is one of the top ten attributes corporations look for in a new business site.