The real reasons the arts are important

Tonight I had the distinct honor of being the featured presenter at The Arc of Schuyler‘s 33rd Annual Meeting and Reception.  The focus of the evening was “Celebrate the Arts”, recognizing the life-changing work The Arc is doing through its Expressive Arts program.  Tonight’s program reads: “The Arc of Schuyler believes that art plays a critical role in the way people express their feelings and thoughts and has the power to connect people in our community.”  Well said!

The Arc serves hundreds of people every year and currently offers classes in visual art, dance, music, and writing.  Students move from class to class university-style, and are able to choose the classes that interest them.  Take a look at the Spring 2011 Class Schedule here.  Impressive!

Works of art made by Arc students were exhibited throughout tonight’s reception space (the lovely Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen), and the program began with a series of short films created by students, which featured soon-to-be-retired Executive Director Jim Wilson (who knew he was such a good actor?  Jim, I think you should contact Lake Country Players ASAP!).  All kidding aside, I was really impressed with the video.  It was professionally shot and edited, and really, really funny.  Staff and students worked together to create something great, and I know this effort will continue.

The program also included recognition of 17 ten + year employees of The Arc, including Carolyn Sullivan, who works with students in the art studio.  She’s been working for The Arc for twenty one years, and her commitment is palpable.  She’s absolutely dedicated to the growth and development of her students.  It should be noted that Executive Director Jim Wilson has been at The Arc for 33 years and Assistant Director Jeanette Frank for 32.  I think that speaks volumes about the organization and the work it does.

My remarks tonight were about the intrinsic value of the arts to individuals and our communities.  I don’t get to talk about this very often, because I’m usually focusing on the extrinsic values of the arts, mainly how the arts contribute to the economy.  So tonight I really got to speak from my heart, about why the arts matter.  My remarks follow, and I welcome your comments.

But before I post my remarks, a few photos from tonight!

To follow are my remarks.

Thank you for inviting me to join you tonight!   For those of you who aren’t familiar with The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, we are a regional arts services organization, working in five counties in the Southern Tier.  We help arts and culture grow and thrive by supporting artists, schools and organizations, and connecting them with the public.  Our goal is that everyone, everywhere can have access to the arts where they live.  This last point is critical, because the arts aren’t just for people who can buy fifty-dollar tickets and go to a concert hall.  The arts are for everyone.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit The ARC’s art studio and observe a class.  Students were making prints from designs drawn into Styrofoam.  I watched as brightly colored works of art emerged from simple tools, and witnessed the unbridled joy of the creative process.  Cynthia didn’t need to show me around, because an enthusiastic student – who, by the way, has very limited verbal skills – pointed out every piece of artwork and clearly communicated his passion for art.  Staff told me that this student has found his voice through artmaking – visual art, dance, and drumming.  And that’s what it’s about, folks.  No matter where art is made, no matter where it’s encountered, art can change people’s lives.

I spend a lot of time speaking about what I call the extrinsic value of the arts, particularly how arts and culture positively contribute to the economy.  It’s something I have to talk about, because, unfortunately, it’s often the only message public policy makers will hear.  I can spout numbers and statistics with the best of them, but what I really want to be talking about is the exuberance and passion I witnessed in the ARC studio yesterday.  The intrinsic value of the arts is what fuels my passion.

As we participate in the arts, we find that they’re not just something to do, an “add-on”.  They’re essential for living a full life.  A study by the Rand Corporation in 2010 found that people participate in the arts for the intrinsic benefits of arts experiences – pleasure, imagination, meaning, inspiration – not to improve their test scores or to stimulate the economy.  Indeed, the arts bring beauty, vision, and connection to our lives.  They help us communicate, play and relax.  They help us understand ourselves and others better.

Immediate benefits come from participating in the arts.  As I witnessed in the studio yesterday, participation motivates people to want to do more.  Students come into The ARC studio clapping, because they want to make more art; they want to continue the pleasure they receive from the creative experience.  That’s what keeps me going back to my easel and guitar, for sure!

Secondly, people who participate in the arts grow.  They communicate more effectively, have more empathy for others, and understand the larger world more fully.  And when people share their arts experiences with others, these personal effects spill over into the community, breaking down barriers, enhancing diversity, and fostering a shared community identity.

The ARC’s Franklin Street Gallery is a terrific example of this.  Artwork from The ARC’s students is exhibited alongside work made by accomplished local artists, and it’s enjoyed – and purchased! – by gallery visitors, who learn that being differently-abled does not preclude someone from being creative.  In turn, The ARC students learn that they’re part of a larger, welcoming artistic community that extends far beyond the boundaries of the studio and gallery.  This is what the arts do – they encourage individual creativity and personal growth, break down barriers, and strengthen communities.

I am continually inspired by the depth and breadth of arts and culture in our region, and how the arts benefit individuals and our communities.  I’m out there talking about the arts every day, and I challenge you to do the same.  Be an advocate for the intrinsic value of the arts!  Talk to elected officials, other public policy makers, and business leaders about the difference the arts are making in the lives of The ARC’s students, in your life, and in your community.  Tell them that the arts aren’t “extras” – tell them that the arts are essential for life!

Thank you!

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