ART, it isn't JUST about fun!

FLASH FACT: According to a recent study by Stanford University professor Shirley Brice Heath, young people who participate in the arts at least 3 hours, 3 days/week for 1 year are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools.

In times of diminishing budgets for schools and parents alike, the value of the arts is often pulled into question. Those who have keep up on the research and stayed on top of the trends know what schools that are sacraficing art in lieu of academic programing seemingly have overlooked... namely that art promotes academic growth along with developing creative and critical thinking skills.

Below are links to articles examining the value of art to a child's overall development. Feel free to browse and/or let us know of articles or research we may have missed.

The ART of Camp
What the Arts Really Teach our Kids
Ten Lessons the Arts Teach
Music and Cognitive Development
Project Zero (The Harvard Graduate School of Education explores how children and adults learn through the arts.)
Putting the Arts in the Picture (Book review)
Oxbow Produces Skilled Thinkers and Artists
Risk and Choice at Creative Arts Camp