11 FACTS ABOUT ARTS IN EDUCATION

from DoSomething.org | http://bit.ly/tp0196

1. Students who participate in arts programs are at least three times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, elected to class office within their schools, participate in a math and science fair, win an award for school attendance and win an award for writing an essay or poem.

2. Third grade art students who participated in the Guggenheim Learning Through Art Program performed better in six categories of literacy and critical thinking skills - including thorough description, hypothesizing and reasoning - than did students who were not in the program.

3. Studies show that students of the arts in all disciplines outperformed their non-arts peers on the SAT in 2007.

4. Numerous studies affirm that students who receive music education in school improve their SAT and ACT scores in math, foreign language and creative writing.

5. In California, 500,000 fewer school children are taking music education now than five years ago.

6. Nine out of 10 parents surveyed opposed cuts to the arts in our schools, yet many policy makers seem tone-deaf to this critical part of educating our children.

7. Experts estimate that out of a class of 30 students, up to ten will someday be employed in an arts-related occupation.

8. American consumers spent $12.1 billion ($42 per person) on admissions to performing arts events in 2002.

9. Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year.

10. The not-for-profit arts and culture industry generates 5.7 million jobs every year.

11. About 86% of artists vote in comparison with about 60% of all Americans.

Sources:
The New York Times
Fast Facts About the Arts
The Arts and Economic Prosperity
Americans for the Arts
California Arts Council
The Performing Arts in the GDP
All the Arts for All the Kids: What the Arts Do
American Association of Museums FAQ
Education Encyclopedia - StateUniversity.com: Music Education