The Arts: A Cornerstone for Local Communities

When it comes to the success of local communities, arts may not always be the first thing that springs to mind as a fundamental pillar. We're often more concerned with issues related to politics, healthcare, and economic development.

But I believe that the arts are as crucial to a thriving community as a well-attended town hall meeting or the funding of the police force. The impact of the arts can be just as tangible and effective, if not more.

A vibrant arts community can obviously provide entertainment and enjoyment. This is how many people generally look at the arts. But this is only scratching the surface of the tangible and intangible benefits that a vibrant arts community can have on society. The arts can enable critical social cohesion, impact political thinking, encourage civic engagement, create job opportunities, provide education, boost the local economy and even reduce crime.

By looking beyond the obvious, we can begin to understand and realize the true impact that supporting the arts can have on our lives and our communities.

Arts In Stark

This post was inspired by the initiatives of our local arts organizations Arts In Stark and the efforts of the new group that I’m involved in called The Canton Culture Collective. In my personal opinion, the goal of these groups is simple: To support arts and culture initiatives in our community and to achieve all of the benefits that I just listed and more. It’s a lofty goal.

Let’s explore some of these benefits in detail as I summarize the 3 main areas that Arts In Stark focuses on. But first… let me call out the obvious. To do the work, organizations need funding. Arts In Stark seeks support annually from organizations and individuals to support its annual arts campaign. This year the goal has been set at 1.4 million. Through our community’s generous support they'll strive to impact and influence many challenges and opportunities in our local area.

Arts in Education: More Than Just Finger Painting

An example of how Arts In Stark impacts education in our community is their SmARTs program.

“SmARTs provides innovative curriculum to all Stark County’s school districts. Area artists work with classroom teachers to blend arts with traditional academics.” (Canton Repository) (Learn More)

Starting with the young minds in education, integrating arts isn’t just about adding color to a classroom or filling up time slots on a school schedule. It’s about developing critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and cognitive abilities. Beyond the SmARTs program, schools that weave visual arts, music, dance, and theater into their curriculum often see improved academic performance and heightened student engagement.

More importantly, arts education fosters an environment of creative thinking and problem-solving that textbooks alone might not cultivate. Unfortunately, when cuts have to be made, the arts are first on the chopping block. This can rob students from achieving all these benefits and more.

A specific study you might find useful is "The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies" published by the National Endowment for the Arts. This report is just one example of evidence that arts-rich education improves academic performance and job prospects of students, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Arts and Wellbeing: A Dose of Good Health

If laughter is the best medicine, music and art might just be the runner-ups. Participating in the arts can have a profound impact on health and wellbeing. This isn’t about strumming a guitar by a bonfire and calling it therapy (though that sounds amazing), but about genuine benefits documented by healthcare professionals.

For instance, music therapy has been shown to aid in managing conditions like dementia, depression, and PTSD. Community arts programs offer spaces for social interaction, which can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. The arts provide not just a platform for self-expression but also a form of healing and recovery, fostering resilience in communities.

Personally, I am a painter and I create art in my free time. I know first hand how engaging with art can achieve all of these health benefits and more. Similarly, I'm sure you've experienced the energy created by a local community festival, and directly felt the positive feelings from just being in that environment.

Arts and Community Vitality: The Glue That Holds Everything Together

“Beyond its cultural significance, the Stark County arts campaign is a driving force behind economic growth and revitalization.” (Canton Repository)

Arts can act as a community’s glue, binding people together with shared experiences and collective participation. Think about the last time you attended a live concert, visited an art gallery, or watched a local theater production. These experiences can transform public spaces into hubs of social interaction and cultural engagement. They enrich the community’s cultural landscape and can directly boost local economies by encouraging local spending that can be a significant economic driver.

Beyond Entertainment: Arts as a Catalyst for Social Change

One of the most potent roles of the arts is their ability to incite social change. Through various forms of expression, artists have the power to raise awareness, challenge the status quo, and inspire action.

Street art, for example, can transform a drab alleyway into a powerful statement on social issues. Documentary films and theater can spotlight stories that need telling, influencing public opinion and policy. The arts provide a voice for the voiceless and can amplify messages that might otherwise go unheard in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Real Impact

For local communities, the arts are not just decorations that make life prettier; they're foundational elements that directly impact our most important challenges and needs in society.

Whether it’s through the soft strums of a guitar, the bold strokes of a painter’s brush, or the heartfelt lines of a community theater play, the arts have a unique way of permeating every aspect of community life, proving themselves to be invaluable time and again.

The next time there's a debate about what's essential for the community, remember to give the arts a seat at the table—or better yet, the head of the table. The arts community might just be the most hardworking member of the community family, multitasking to educate, heal, enrich, and unite. And isn’t that something worth investing in?

Donate online or reach out to ArtsinStark at 330-409-7607 to find out how you or your company can help support the arts-vibrancy of Stark County.