Benefits Of Art Skills

Often not appreciated in the past, the “arts” (music, dance, and the visual/fine arts) are gaining a renewal in support as research shows benefits for children academically, along with improvements in behaviour.

The trend towards expanding arts is certainly a positive one, as the benefits that you gain from participation in the arts are many. In fact, research shows that the arts promote positive development in the academic, social and emotional areas.

The arts don’t discriminate based on age, race, gender, or any other measure. Their study provides benefits for all kinds, shapes, and sizes. The arts can quite literally be the lifeline they need to make long-lasting improvements to their life.

Creativity: Often the first skill people think of when they hear the word art is creativity. It is a very important thing to foster and enhance, as people apply creativity to just about every aspect of life – problem-solving, everyday writing, projects (business or otherwise), etc.

Diligence: Artists will tell you that practice makes perfect. To get better, one must be persistent in their craft.  Learning to have this diligence early on will leave a lasting impression on the person, who can take their hard-earned diligence and apply it to other parts of their life.

Academic Benefits: Individuals who engage in the study of the arts perform better in math, reading, and writing. A study shows that the visual arts have a positive impact on one’s ability to organize their writing and an increase in their verbal abilities.

Sophisticated reading skills are promoted as well, including the ability to interpret complex texts, such as those found in science courses. People that take a combination of arts demonstrate improved verbal, reading and math skills, and also show a greater capacity for higher-ordered thinking skills such as analyzing and problem-solving.

Behavioural Benefits: The benefits of art courses extend beyond the academic realm. A number of studies have shown that the arts have a positive influence on a person’s behaviour and social environment as well. It helps in develop an improved understanding of social relationships and complex emotional issues.

Career Building: These individuals also demonstrated higher overall career goals. Participation in the arts was correlated with higher occupational aspirations, including choosing a path that is aligned with a professional career, such as nursing, accounting or education.

Social Service: People with arts have also been seen having higher participation in volunteer activities, as well as greater engagement in social and community services than their counterparts.