Just cut the 'Arts' has been the knee-jerk decision for years...Isn't it about time to change?3/17/2017 The proof is everywhere....children who have the opportunity to participate actively in the Arts will be more successful in life. Period. There have been studies, with data collected, that prove this point but still, the Arts are still seen as frivolous and unnecessary. Whether it is playing tuba in a band, painting a landscape, singing in a choir, learning to dance or writing a haiku, a creative outlet will be something that helps improve the life of the 'creator' more so than a pill or elixir. The recent (within the last 20 years at least) rise of Music Therapists (as well as many other art therapists) has been as a result of the understanding between an individual who is dealing with the pain or symptoms of an illness and the therapeutic benefits to practicing an art form. The number of people who participate in a 'Paint Night' at local restaurants or pubs is proof positive that a night out with your friends, trying to reproduce something that an instructor has chosen as the model for the night, is more likely to improve your mental state than a bottle of pills and a night in solitude in front of the TV.
But still, government leaders can not make the connection and cut any funding that will ensure the future growth and development of a population that understands and wants to learn about the Arts. Some societies in our world believe that it should be the last thing removed from their people because they have grown up with it and have come to understand that Art is as essential as having a fire hall with trained individuals to take care of incidents that could cause people harm. These same societies ensure that the concert halls, museums and theatres are updated and refreshed so that they are welcoming and prepared to care for the next audience or group of visitors. They also work to ensure that there are a multitude of experiences for their population to partake in, banking on the health benefits the individuals will gain by attending an exhibition, a performance of 12th Night or singing the Hallelujah chorus with their peers in the annual Christmas choral concert. Thanks to folks like Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma, the public is crying 'foul'. Here is hoping that the people are listening. I believe Churchill said it best, “The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them….Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the reverence and delight which are their due.”
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August 2019
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