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The arts challenge us with different points of view, compel us to empathize with others, and give us the opportunity to reflect on the human condition.
Why the Arts?
When young people explore their creative potential, they build the belief, bravery, and motivation they need to dream big and explore new paths. They also gain essential skills that support them throughout their lives: collaboration, trust, empathy, resilience, and accountability.
The need for arts education
Engaging with art encourages social awareness and civic participation
Participation in the arts at an early age is proven to have a positive impact on the social, emotional, and academic lives of young people. Artistic expression helps equip them with empathy, empowerment, and critical thinking—supporting them as they connect deeply with others, strive for academic greatness, and imagine new possibilities. Communities rich in the arts naturally engender healthy civil societies.
We’ve witnessed a steady decline in U.S. K-12 arts education
With an increased emphasis on standardized testing, public schools have faced dramatic funding cuts in arts education. However, studies prove that arts education closes achievement gaps and advances academic success—which is exactly what Arts Ignite aims to do. In 2019, 242 Arts Ignite teaching artists inspired 3,298 students to learn and explore through creative expression, and our impact continues to grow!
The benefits of arts education
How Arts Ignite sparks key outcomes for youth
Research shows that the benefits of an arts education are directly connected to the Arts Ignite classroom values
Building Creative Capacity
We teach critical thinking, creative problem solving, and collaboration to our students—encouraging them to wonder, imagine, and strengthen their essential soft-skills.
Community
Our teachers and partners build strong, vibrant communities that help students cultivate deep connections and healthy relationships with one another.
Courage
We use artistic expression to awaken innate potential within our students. From there, they build the belief, bravery, and motivation they need to dream big and explore new paths.
The impact of arts education—by the numbers
91%
of Americans believe that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education.
73%
of Americans believe that the arts unify their communities.
90%
of the top skills employers value most are related to creativity.
What we do
We’re a community of artists and educators, committed to a better life for all
We believe that the arts are a powerful force for sparking imagination, cultivating a sense of self, and breaking cycles of poverty. Arts education can create a ripple effect of hope and positive change within ourselves, our communities, and society.
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