The year 2020 revealed a lot about how our society functions, what it values, and how these values impact individuals. As an artist, I have always advocated for the importance of the arts. I joined art_works as an intern specifically to speak up, promote equity in the arts, and make space for underrepresented artists. During the social distancing and quarantine necessitated by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the arts have become more crucial than ever as many people look for ways to connect, whether it be visiting a virtual museum or attending a performance. In a sense, this time has shown the arts to be a refuge from uncertainty.
Nonetheless, the importance of the arts is still questioned, and many aspects of our society, from education to governmental policy, fail to recognize its value. While one could argue for why art is relevant for social and cultural reasons, I want to focus on two less commonly argued points: health and the economy.
In 2019, a World Health Organization study found that art played a “major role” in preventing illnesses. We know that art heals by stimulating hormones and neurotransmitters. Pierre Lemarquis’ book L’art Qui Guérit (2020) explores how making or viewing art encourages the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins — hormones that have been used to help treat Parkinson’s, Depression, and also manage pain. Other studies have shown that the ability to create art remains even after the ability to speak has been lost, a phenomenon mainly found in progressive neurological diseases.
Art contributes to the economy both in terms of expanding the workforce and overall economic growth. A 2018 study by the World Economic Forum predicts “creativity, originality, and initiative” to be three in-demand skills for employers in 2022. 50% of job market opportunities cite creativity as a necessary skill, while 74% of educators believe the risk of automation is lower in professions that require creative problem-solving skills, according to a 2019 study by Adobe. These workforce trends demonstrate the necessity of art to building a productive workforce for the future. Just as important, the arts both contribute to and grow the economy. In the United States, the arts and culture sector annually generates $250 billion USD in revenue and creates 29.5 million jobs.
While the arts have a net-positive effect on health and the economy, the future of the arts is at stake as organizations continue to navigate the economic after-shocks of the COVID-19 Pandemic. How can we ensure the future of arts business, galleries, museums, and other types of art organizations? Government funding is certainly one viable option. During the economic turmoil of the 1970s, for example, Lyndon Johnson employed over 10,000 artists through CETA. Other countries offer models for how to support the arts during economic downturns. From France having a special unemployment system for artists to New Zealand providing a cultural recovery plan, governmental support of the arts is a key aspect of achieving a more arts-positive future.
Our education system can also be a component of this future. Research shows how crucial art education is for children and teenagers. However, public funding for arts classroom time remains difficult to navigate. Connecting students with cultural resources, providing art instruction and curriculum, and creating partnerships with art centers represent ways to further amplify the arts in schools. These options require funding, but more importantly, the willingness to make these changes. We must acknowledge that arts education is vital not only for the education of future generations, but also to the greater health of our society.
Art contributes to our lives in ways not always easily recognized. If this past year has shown us anything, it is that art is more important than ever. It is now up to us to determine how we can demonstrate that the arts matter — let’s begin by reinvesting resources back into the arts to build back a better future together.