A finding by the U.S. Congress in 1994 remains relevant in ways more profound than ever. In The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (H.R. 6, Title X, Section D, 1994) Congress drew this conclusion, among others:

. . . The arts are forms of understanding and ways of knowing that are fundamentally important to education.

A decade later, a growing base of research powers this engine even farther. Arts education can tremendously influence the developmental growth of any child and has proven to help level the learning field among socioeconomic groups. Moreover, the arts have a measurable effect on just about every academic discipline—and on the character of any individual. The research and quotations cited on the following pages provide specific evidence and inspiration in support. Use them to develop a climate for arts education in your school or community—and as encouragement when you develop lesson plans and more.

To help you find what is most germane to your school or project, information is grouped under The Arts Matter link by the following categories of impact:

  •  The Arts Connection: Better Students, Better People
  •  Empowerment Zone: Arts After School
  •  Positive Alternatives: Arts and At-Risk Youth
  •  A Creative Economy: Arts and the 21st Century Workforce
  •  The Animated Child:
    - How Theatre Impacts Learning
     - How Music Impacts Learning 
     - How Visual Arts Impact Learning
     - How Dance Impacts Learning

For most research cited in this section, you can access source documents on the web. Whenever possible, links are provided. Just click on the accompanying attribution in italics.

© 2005–2006 Woodruff Arts Center, All Rights Reserved
Funding for Woodruff 's Education Initiative was generously provided by The Goizueta Foundation, Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc., The Kendeda Fund & an Anonymous Donor.

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Artwork featured in masthead: Tony Cragg, “New Figuration,” 1985. Plastic forms, Purchase with Collections Council Acquisition Fund in memory of Lenore E. Gold, 1996.6.