As the economy and job market continue to suffer, we are looking for any signs of hope we can find; especially those who dream of being a professional artist but are scared to take the leap for fear of becoming the dreaded “starving artist”. The good news is, there are recent studies that prove there is such a hope!

In the article, “Sorry: Art Is a Business” by Professor John M. Eger, he lists impressive statistics regarding the success and satisfaction of arts alumni. But, it did become clear that the success and satisfaction would be even higher if these artists had business savvy. While many schools do offer degrees that incorporate both art studies and business/entreprenuerial skills, these types of well-rounded curriculums are becoming a necessity. For example, at the Institute For Arts Entrepreneurship in Chicago, “there is clearly recognition that the artists in society can and must play a larger role in societal and economic affairs.” Creativity and innovation are necessary for improving our economy, and arts education is where it can all begin.

2011 is the 20th anniversary of the George Lucas Foundation, Edutopia.  Edutopia.org “spreads the word about ideal, interactive learning environments and enables others to adapt these successes locally”.  With art education quickly being diminished from many elementary schools, it is so great to see that on Edutopia.org, they are teaching and inspiring successful art integration within schools.

In their article, “Why Arts Education Must Be Saved”, Edutopia gives us five amazing reports on the success of academically integrated arts curriculum. Read about National Novel Writing Month, coming up in November, or watch a video of students singing Opera, to increase brain-based learning. Click here to find these stories and more.

In several schools in Howard County, located in Baltimore, MD, school officials have taken a new approach to their students’ learning. In almost every subject, math, science, language arts, social studies, etc., teachers are infusing art, dance, drawing, and painting.

Teachers are already saying that they can see a difference in their students since the implementation of “art integration”. One teacher at Thunder Hill Elementary School said, “Behavior problems are minimized because students want to be involved in the lessons and are suddenly fully engaged in moving their own learning into new directions.” And not only have students behaviors improved, but their test scores have as well!  After the “arts integration” program was introduced, school wide test scores in both math and reading improved.

Just this month, teachers in the Howard County area attended an “arts integration” workshop presented by artist Jacquelyn Thunfors, the author of  Paint Your Life, a book all about the concept of teaching you how to convey your ideas with images instead of words. Another great aspect of this program is that art teachers have nothing to worry about! Their classes are still in place, and work in tandem with the program.

Click here to learn more about arts integration and to read the full article by Joseph Burris.

Help keep the arts alive by participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project. Nine organizations have entered this contest in hopes of winning up-to $250,000 to help make a difference to the arts in your community. These nine organizations are all part of the 111 Arts Coalition. Some of the organizations include NAMTA, The Dave Project, and ShenenArts.

Please visit this link to learn more information and to vote! Just a couple minutes of your time now through January 31st, 2011 can help make a difference to the arts in your community. You can vote in three different ways, so make sure to do all three and make your vote count!

Learn more about the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Funding for art education is not only disappearing in the U.S. but all across the world, and society is fighting back. The proof is in this picture taken at Trafalgar Square in London. Seen above, UK demonstrators marched against a new proposal by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to raise college tuition fees and cut funding for art colleges to ZERO. Many of the protesters include students of Goldsmiths, a college of the University of London, with the slogan “Education should be free for all, not a product for purchase”.

Goldsmiths is a renowned school for higher art education. Graduates from there have helped increase society’s awareness of London’s contemporary art presence, particularly Damien Hirst. With such talent  and inspiration coming from Goldsmiths and other art colleges, it is sad to hear that the UK’s government does not support them.

To read the article, “What London’s Student Protests Mean for the Future of Art” by Ben Davis, click here.

NAMTA, the International Art Materials Trade Association, is in the running for receiving funding of  250K from the Pepsi Refresh Project. NAMTA is a strong supporter of art education and they have developed a plan to help provide 25 different schools with the necessary funds to build a successful art program.  Should NAMTA receive enough votes on the Pepsi Refresh Challenge, each of the 25 schools will receive a $5,000 grant, art supplies, and a manual on how to integrate art into their classrooms and teaching.

Please take a minute to visit the Pepsi Refresh Project Website and vote for NAMTA’s proposal, “Help Teachers Bring the Arts to Life in their Classrooms!”.

YouTube Video: NAMTA Foundation Grant for Charlotte County Schools

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National Art League instructor Rhoda Lowinger continually stresses the importance of art in a child’s education. “Many parents don’t realize the overall impact art education has on child development, allowing gains in math, reading and science, as well as increasing cognitive ability and critical reasoning skills,” Lowinger said at a ceremony this month displaying students work. Parents whose children are enrolled at the cultural center know this all to well. They have enrolled their children in many different classes offered to enhance the education their children receive.

Read more about what Rhoda Lowinger and the National Art League offer in classes in this article published in Douglastown Patch by Patrick Conti:

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In speaches made regarding the education of our children in the United States our programs are often compared to those in Finland, Singapore and Canada.  Here is what Education Secretary Arne Duncan had to say August 25th. 

“Today, there are many different approaches to strengthening the teaching profession — both here in America and in countries that are outperforming us such as Finland and Singapore.Our competitors in other parts of the world recognize that the roles of teachers are changing. Today, they are expected to prepare knowledge workers, not factory workers, and to help every child succeed, not just the [ones who are] easy to teach.”

In the “Answer Sheet”  posted on Washingtonpost.com, Sean Slade, Director of Healthly School Communities, provides the reader with comments made by leadership in these countries.

Follow the  link to this interesting article on what these countries think of Art Education and its importance to a child’s development.

Answer Sheet

What are your thoughts?