What is happening?

Why are the arts considered important? 
Arts education is linked to enhanced academic achievement in areas such as 
mathematics, reading, creative problem solving, critical thinking, and verbal skill, and 
can improve motivation, concentration, confidence and teamwork. Research 
acknowledges the value of creativity, curiosity and imaginative play, particularly for 
young children, and the need for innovative, creative and critical thinking in successful 
societies of the future. Also, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 
Cultural organisation (UNESCO), arts education "keeps students in school". 
The Warwick commission asserts that arts education should be an entitlement - a 
universal right - for all children in schools: "We need creative scientists as much as we 
need artists who understand the property of materials and the affordances of new 
technology," it states. Respected education expert Sir Ken Robinson has long declared 
that creativity is "as important in education as literacy" describing it as a "myth" that 
only certain people are creative. 
In conclusion 
Vikki Heywood, who led the Warwick commission, says that failing to reassert arts in 
education will ultimately result in "reduced cultural ambition, achievement and influence 
in the world" for Britain and would be generally "bad for business and bad for society". 
She calls for a unified approach between governments and the creative industries to 
"guarantee equal access" to cultural education for all children, to provide equal 
opportunities to "live a creative life". 

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Sydney school principal Georgia Constanti says students of today will face many 
problems in the future - from climate change to the world food crisis - which will require 
creative solutions. Others envisage today's students having multiple occupations over the 
course of their lifetimes, highlighting the need for adaptability and an ability to take 
risks, skills experts say are part and parcel of arts education. 

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