By Marilyn Delk |
Established over 80 years ago to advocate for the arts at the federal level while representing and serving local communities by fostering equitable access to the arts, Americans for the Arts recently released the results of a national public opinion survey to examine Americans’ perceptions of and attitudes toward arts and culture. Nearly 80% of Americans attended, visited, or watched an arts performance or cultural event over the past year, with 76% of the population considering arts and culture to be important to them, demonstrating the importance of these activities to the daily lives of citizens. And what’s more, the survey found that investment by local, state, and federal governments in the arts is supported by a firm majority of citizens.
The benefits derived from these activities extend beyond the individuals participating, and contribute to stronger communities where experiences are shared with those of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities. An overwhelming 92% of Americans believe that every student should be provided access to a quality arts education, while only 52% think that students have sufficient opportunities for such participation. According to the survey, 70% of Americans agree that “the arts help students perform better academically.”
“The findings from this national public opinion study affirm the belief that we are better people with the arts in our lives,” said Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research for Americans for the Arts. He went on to comment that engagement in the arts makes the American public feel healthier, more creative, and more empathetic—feeling better about today and more optimistic about tomorrow. “These personal benefits also extend beyond the individual with the public agreeing that investments in the arts strengthen civic pride and improve the social economic, and educational well-being of their community,” he stated.
Cohen also says that creativity isn’t only a skill benefitting students in classrooms, but also providing an advantage in the workplace. “These insights highlight how arts education not only enriches academic experiences but also equips individuals with the creative problem-solving and innovative thinking needed to excel in their careers.”
But perhaps the most amazing finding is that support for the arts transcends political divisions, with a majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents favoring government funding for nonprofit arts and culture organizations and also supporting funding for individual artists. There is no doubt in my mind that the arts rise above politics; very few people know who were the political leaders during the Renaissance when Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were creating aristic masterpieces, or when Mozart, Bach, or Beethoven were writing astounding music that lives on yet today. The legacy of the arts reaches back through history and will go on forever. The fact that the arts can bring together people of disparate political opinions simply provides more proof of the universal benefit that can be derived from arts participation.
Ohio is blessed with the Ohio Arts Council, formed in 1965 “to foster and encourage the development of the arts and assist the preservation of Ohio’s cultural heritage.” The OAC helps the arts unite us as Buckeyes, supporting organizations such as Darke County Center for the Arts, as well as individual artists and educators with funds provided by state legislators. In a recent statement, the OAC said that “support for the arts and cultural sector is a strong investment of public dollars, an investment that provides significant returns in the form of revitalized communities, a better quality of life, and an education that equips our young people with the creative skills needed in today’s economy.”
During the hurly burly of this holiday season, you will probably benefit from interaction with the arts—attending a holiday concert, seeing a performance of The Nutcracker, going to a Christmas movie, or simply singing a Christmas carol. And your spirits will undoubtedly be lifted, tensions will melt away, and joy will abound at least for a little while. And best of all, the gift of the arts can be experienced year round, universally benefitting all who partake. That is a fact that unites us all!