Why are the arts valuable to society?

EDUCATION:  “The arts personalize learning, give voice to the individual, create community, highlight student success in a variety of ways, promote abilities needed in the workforce, and generate positive gains in academic achievement.”                                   – Measuring Up: NH Arts Education Data Project Report (2011)

HEALTHCARE:  “Engagement with creative activities has the potential to contribute toward reducing stress and depression and can serve as a vehicle for alleviating the burden of chronic disease.”   Evidence suggests that the use of art and music reduces the length of hospital stays for those patients taking part in visual and performing arts interventions than among those not doing so.                                                                                   – American Journal of Public Health (2010)

CORPORATE:  Innovation, adaptability, and leadership skills are strongly correlated with creativity.  A 2010 IBM study in which 1500 CEOs were surveyed worldwide determined that “more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision – successfully navigating an increasingly complex world will require creativity.”                                        – IBM Global CEO Study (2010)