The Choice is Art
Exposure to the Arts means
Higher SAT Scores
Exposure to the Arts means
Increased School Attendance
Exposure to the Arts means
Lower Dropout Rates
Did You Know?
Arts participants are half as likely to have new court referrals as non-participating youth. – YouthARTS Development Project, Department of Justice, 2000.
Children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory compared to children who do not receive musical training. – Dr. Laurel Trainor, McMaster University, 2006.
“You can’t teach kids algebra if they don’t want to live. And art appeals to life. It appeals to the part of the brain where imagination lives.” – William Strickland, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Pittsburgh.
Arizona schools, on average, spend less than half a penny a day per student on arts supplies. – Arizona Arts Education Census Project, 2010.
Only 8% of Arizona schools repot having adequately equipped facilities for dance. – Arizona Arts Education Census Project, 2010.
Employers rate “creativity/innovation” among the top 5 skills required of employees, and rank finding employees who possess those skills among their top challenges. – Ready to Innovate, 2008.
Arts participants are less likely to drop out of school. – Dr. James S. Catterall, UCLA, 1997.
Students receiving arts-based instruction for at least 3 hours on 3 days of each week are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. – Dr. Shirley Brice Heath, Stanford University, 1998.
The Choice is Art Campaign
Aligned and embedded within the Arts Commission’s strategic plan, The Choice is Art is a 4-year promotional campaign for the arts in Arizona, meant to:
- Advance the cultural conversation in Arizona,
- Grow public understanding about the broad-spectrum benefits of arts programs and increase arts participation in Arizona communities, and
- Fortify a privately-held arts endowment whose funds can be utilized in support of statewide arts programs. This endowment, Arizona ArtShare, was established in 1996 and is held by the Arizona Community Foundation.
The Choice is Art’s first focus is the importance of access to arts education. Over four years the campaign will evolve to address the following: the significant contributions of Arizona artists and arts professionals, the positive impact of the arts on community health and livability, the broad economic impact of the arts and culture sector, and the singular role of the arts in promoting cultural understanding.
