Art is all around us. Whether you hear your favorite song on the radio or drive by a gorgeous mural, you experience art every day. We know that these meeting points elevate our everyday experiences, but it’s common to lose sight of the overall impact of the arts on communities.
Our goal here is to dive into this topic and answer that question: “Why is art important?” By answering it with insights from research, we hope to provide people and teachers alike with the solid information they need to share their love of the arts with their wider communities.
Humans have had a relationship with art, in one form or another, since time immemorial. From prehistoric cave drawings to ancient instruments, it is obvious that art has always been and will continue to be an interwoven part of our existence, regardless of race, political leanings, or cultural background.
People appreciate art in different ways, whether it’s music, dance, poetry, drawings, paintings, or even graffiti. Some like to be directly involved in the creation of the art (artists) while others like to experience and appreciate it. Whatever the case, the arts play a big role in how humans see and interact with others and the world in general. Art helps us emotionally, financially, psychologically, and even helps to shape individual and collective personality.
As humans, we’re naturally drawn to art as a form of expression and communication. Toddlers love to draw, sing, and dance. It’s a way for them to express themselves before they’re verbal.
In therapy settings, art also provides an opportunity for digging deeper and expressing emotions that are difficult to discuss.
Art and human history go hand-in-hand. This is why people dedicate their lives to studying cave art, Shakespearean plays, and so much more.
When we take the time to dive into art created in the past, we can learn about other generations and eras. We can study art to find out what those before us were facing and how they overcame it. In the same way, future generations will learn about our current events through the art we leave behind.
Here are ten reasons why it’s important:
- Art helps a person express their feelings and emotions in a way words can’t.
- Art helps build connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
- Art is useful in a business setting as it’s conveys a message about the business and sets a emotional tone.
- Art can help boost your productivity.
- It has the power to educate people about almost anything.
- For adults, art can be used in corporate settings to help people understand complex data, as well as to create models that demonstrate a state of affairs or future path.
- Art is used as therapy in many different mental health issues, including anxiety, stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Used in Advertising and Marketing to Make Products More Appealing to Consumers.
- When you create something you’re proud of, it can boost your self-esteem and give you a confidence boost.
- Art can help you connect with your inner child and bring more fun and playfulness into your life.
Whether or not we are aware of it, we allow art to affect our lives one way or another, and the reasons why we make art are many!