Americans for the Arts hosts an impressive collection of policy and advocacy resources for the arts and arts education. The following list isn’t comprehensive, but it’s tidy, quick, and includes the most likely resources you’ll need to make the case for arts education.
The following items include information for arts education professionals. It also includes docs you can print and leave behind with your principal, superintendent, district staff, fellow teachers, mayors, council members, and state leaders to help them understand why they should support the arts for all students.
Federal Priorities for Arts Education
These are one or two page briefs that are meant to be left with decision makers. They include all pertinent information to get up to speed on major topics. You can print out the PDF version to hand out. The arts ed ones are:
Making a Different through Federal and State Advocacy
Americans for the Arts hosts a one-click “take action now” email service for arts and arts education issues. Signing up ensures your opinion will be heard by both state and federal policymakers.
Arts Education Research Briefs to Make the Case
The following one-page documents quickly outline research-based benefits of arts learning. They are useful when making the case for arts leaning in schools, universities, or community settings. Often they are used by advocates to gain more time or money in the school day for arts learning for students.
- SAT Scores Improve with Arts Education
- Arts Education Benefits Cognition
- Arts Education is Employment Training
- Arts Education is Key to a Competitive Creative Workforce
- Arts Learners are Less Likely to Drop Out
- Summary of Arts Education Research and Facts
How to Access Stimulus Funds for Arts Education
During tough economic times like these, arts education funding is often one of the first items cut from the budget—but it doesn’t have to be. The economic stimulus bill, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes a number of expanded funding opportunities that could be available to assist arts education providers. Americans for the Arts has created a resource guide that outlines these programs and policies to help arts education advocates understand and access stimulus funds.
Sign Up and Be Counted!
The Arts Action Fund of Americans for the Arts is seeking 1 Million Members to sign up, for free, and be counted as supporting the arts and arts education. With 1 Million Members, Americans for the Arts will have even greater impact on arts education policy at the federal and state levels.
I agree so wholeheartedly that arts education gives students real world skills. Creativity in the work place, whatever work place is a skill. Knowing how to stand in front of a group and give a presentation is a skill. Communication with co-workers is a skill. Where else are students going to learn these skills?
Yes! There is no question that arts education helps children develop into happy and productive adults, no matter what their career choice might be.