Why the arts? With the emphasis in schools on literacy, math, and science, where do the arts fit in education for today’s students?  At Young Audiences we believe that it is through the arts that children develop the skills, habits of mind, and social competencies needed for the 21st Century. 

Many people think of the arts strictly in terms of the medium, such as a painting, a play or a concert. They forget about the conceptualization that's required before an artist picks up a brush. They may not appreciate the mental rigor an actor must exercise to memorize lines and interpret a script.  The discipline and hard work required for a recital is often overlooked. And let’s not forget the attention to detail shown by directors, lighting technicians, and set-designers and builders. These are all skills that will be required in the world and workforce of the future.

The case for requiring arts education for its skill-building benefits is solid.  Even the Labor Department produced a study concluding that the arts are a great training ground for jobs of the future. Credible studies also suggest that students who take art courses do better academically than those who do not. Nowhere is creative thinking, and the communication skills needed to convey it, better taught than in the arts.

Young Audiences’ core work is to make exciting, creative connections between school children and skilled teaching artists. Learning in and through the arts can help all children achieve and succeed in school.  Arts experiences promote shared purpose and the team spirit required to excel in school and in the workplace in the future. 

Graham Greene may have said it best:  There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.  For many children the arts are the door.  We invite you and your school and community to partner with Young Audiences and the professional teaching artists working with us to open doors to the future for young people.  Working together, we can ensure that the arts play an essential role in the education and development of Northeast Ohio’s youth. 

Marsha Dobrzynski
Executive Director