The world of art has a lot of hidden treasures: facts that may leave you scratching your head in confusion or that could help you impress friends when you’re making conversation. It’s no secret that the arts, in general, enrich lives, enhance communities, and embrace cultures, but too many people overlook its value in education. Enjoy a few interesting tidbits from art lovers and then learn more about why students of all ages must include the arts in their learning.
- Architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture all used to be events in the modern Olympics, between the years 1912 and 1948.
- Ancient Roman sculptures made statues with detachable heads, so when it became necessary, the head of one commemorative statue could be removed and replaced with a new one.
- The Mona Lisa didn’t become well-known until 911 when it was stolen by a museum employee. It was more than 350 years before that time, and the empty spot in the museum attracted more visitors than the painting itself had.
- Proficiency in art correlates with comfort in working math problems. In fact, research shows links between art experiences and increased academic and social development.
With these facts in mind, take a look at the powerful benefits of participating in, studying, and appreciating the arts.
Many students in primary and secondary schools take standardized achievement tests to indicate proficiency in specific subjects. A closer look at those test scores shows that students who participated in music performance scored higher on verbal and mathematics sections of the test. It’s interesting to note that students who take more art classes get higher scores. A report released by the Dana Foundation, conducted by leading neuroscientists, found that students who engage in the arts strengthen their memory retrieval processes and attention skills.
Today’s employers appreciate creativity and the ability to problem-solve. Success in school may lead to better employment opportunities, but promotions and advancement will depend upon an employee’s ability to continue to impress their peers and supervisors. Participation in the creation of art and a study of existing arts can boost abilities in areas such as critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.
Enhanced World View
Music, visual arts, literature, and other arts often represent the culture, history, struggles, and triumphs of other countries and ethnicities. When students immerse themselves in the appreciation of and a study in those arts, the stories of the artists and the artworks, such as those found in Park West Gallery art collections, connections to other times and peoples are made. This improves the student’s ability to positively interact with others. It also helps individuals view themselves as participants in their own communities.
Do you know where your ancestors grew up? Do you know the reasons behind your personal philosophies and beliefs? As art students seek to express themselves through music, word, visual arts, and performance, students explore the answers to questions such as these. In many ways, a study of other artists’ works, such as those in the Park West Gallery, can lead to the same self-examination. Questions such as “Why do I like or dislike this particular art?” can provide the basis of personal learning. Responses to external stimuli, including sensing, listening, tactile feeling, and reacting are all ways to learn about the world around each individual.