The Benefits of the Arts in Education

 AD - This is a PR collaboration.

Some people think of the arts as an inessential embellishment to the curriculum, a light-hearted pastime between more serious subjects. This attitude has led to the arts receiving decreased funding over the years, resulting in children having less exposure to creative fields in their formative years. In reality, art education actually provides a multitude of benefits for children and can aid their personal development and academic success. Take a look at the following insights from a theatre school in Hertfordshire to learn more.

The arts allow children to explore their sense of self and unlock their potential. Experimenting with different creative outlets challenges children to step out of their comfort zone and nurtures their self-esteem. Performing arts are particularly useful for building confidence as children will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of an audience, cultivating their presentation and communication skills.

Visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, and drawing also help promote self-esteem as children have a certain amount of creative authority over their work. This allows them to develop independence and initiative as they will have to look within for inspiration, rather than simply following set guidelines or instructions. As children see their skills improve over time this will give them a sense of accomplishment and will teach them the value of persevering with a project.

Not only do the arts fuel personal development, they can also fortify core academic subjects. Art brings topics to life and makes subjects more accessible to students with different learning styles. Exploring history through art and music gives students a deeper understanding of historical periods and appeals to those students who struggle to absorb information from textbooks.

Performing arts incorporated into the study of literature immerses students into the writing and breathes life into the characters. Maths can be explored through studying shapes, angles and symmetry in artistic mediums such as painting and sculpture. Art has the benefit of providing a more holistic approach to education, allowing students to visualise and engage with topics they might otherwise struggle to grasp.