5 Reasons Why We Fund Creative Learning
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What is creative learning? Why does it matter? Should students be spending class time learning how to paint, shade, sculpt, sing, dance, and act? Should international funders focus on art education programs when there are children in many parts of the world who can’t read?
The answer is a resounding yes! Art education has proven benefits from early childhood, all the way up through secondary and tertiary education. Some of the key benefits include:
1) Improved test scores
There is evidence that participation in arts classes can improve overall academic achievement. Studies have found that high school students with arts-rich experiences showed higher overall GPAs than those who did not. Conversely, students with few or no arts credits in High School were five times more likely to not have graduated than students with many.
The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, collected data from a broad range of U.S. students from kindergarten through 8th grade, and found that students of lower socioeconomic status who had a history of in-depth arts involvement scored higher on a given writing and science test than students from the same background who had less arts education.
2) Helps students master reading, math, and other core skills.
This may be because creative learning links so naturally to other subjects. In a drama class, for instance, students practice both public speaking and reading skills when preparing for a performance. Longitudinal studies have found that music education can improve both reading and math skills, and helps students understand difficult concepts like fractions. A 2009 Canadian study found that young children who studied music showed a marked improvement in vocabulary and linguistics after only four weeks. In short, creative learning takes other concepts students are learning and gives them a new and expressive channel to engage with the material.
3) Keeps students engaged
Because there are so many different learning styles, it is important to provide instruction that appeals to visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and other learners. Arts education can help bridge the gaps for students who have difficulty absorbing information in a typical lecture-style classroom setting. Moreover, according to aggregated data from the Arts Education Partnership, students who have arts integrated instruction have higher school attendance than those who do not.
4) Fosters leadership
Creativity, collaboration, good communication, and confidence are key qualities in a good leader. Art education, whether it’s music, drama, painting, drawing, or sculpting, helps people develop these qualities. Students participating in art education develop a stronger sense of self, and gain confidence in their ability to affect the world around them in meaningful ways.
5) Prepares students for success in life
In addition to all of the concrete, proven benefits of art education, there are more intangible things that happen when students engage in creative learning. Students rehearsing for a play are actively engaging in collaboration and teamwork, not to mention shared accountability and responsibility. Arts education offers a space for students to give and receive constructive feedback, and solve problems with both persistence and patience.
For these reasons and more, Creative Learning is one of our key funding areas. We are so excited to work with innovative organizations like Corazon Roxas Foundation (art education in the Philippines) and the Creative Action Institute (East African Girls’ Leadership Summit) to implement programs that bring creative education to children and youth in underserved areas. We are also piloting our own creative learning programming: a Recycled Materials Art competition which engages children in creative problem solving and helps start the conversation about sustainability. We look forward to continuing our work promoting creative learning to provide a richer and more meaningful learning experience for all children, everywhere.