OPINION: National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills - The Hechinger Report

OPINION: National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills - The Hechinger Report

OPINION: National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills
A pathway to careers of the future

This week marks National Arts in Education Week, a time for us to highlight the transformative power of the arts in education. Arts education for all students is fundamental to a well-rounded education. The arts provide dimension and perspective, and they help students develop the critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills they will need to succeed in school, work and life. Students who have high-quality arts learning opportunities may be among tomorrow’s great artists, and they also may be among tomorrow’s health care professionals, engineers and civic leaders. No matter the path, arts education provides a way to creative careers of the future.

EdVestors and Boston Public Schools (BPS) began laying the groundwork for this future more than a decade ago with the creation of BPS Arts Expansion, an initiative that has brought arts learning opportunities to 17,000 additional students annually across the entire school district, ensuring all students receive foundational arts learning opportunities. Now, it’s time to build upon this base and increase opportunities to help students put their arts education into action.

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According to the 2016 World Economic Forum report, “The Future of Jobs,” a majority of employers say creativity is one of the most valued qualities they seek in their employees, along with critical-thinking skills and the ability to solve complex problems. In Boston, our creative economy sector alone is projected to grow by 7 percent over CONTINUE READING: OPINION: National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills - The Hechinger Report