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Arts

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THE  IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS CURRICULUM
Experiences in the arts – dance, drama, media arts, music, and the visual arts – play a
valuable role in the education of all students. Through participation in the arts, students
can develop their creativity, learn about their own identity, and develop self-awareness,
self-confidence, and a sense of well-being. Since artistic activities involve intense engagement,
students experience a sense of wonder and joy when learning through the arts,
which can motivate them to participate more fully in cultural life and in other educational
opportunities.

The arts nourish the imagination and develop a sense of beauty, while providing unique
ways for students to gain insights into the world around them. All of the arts communicate
through complex symbols – verbal, visual, and aural – and help students understand
aspects of life in a variety of ways. Students gain insights into the human condition
through ongoing exposure to works of art – for example, they can imagine what it would
be like to be in the same situation as a character in a play, an opera, or a painting, and try
to understand that character’s point of view. They identify common values, both aesthetic
and human, in various works of art and, in doing so, increase their understanding of
others and learn that the arts can have a civilizing influence on society. In producing
their own works, students communicate their insights while developing artistic skills
and aesthetic judgement.

Updated on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
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