As we begin a new academic year when students of all ages are starting or returning to school, it’s important to consider what it is we’re trying to provide in a 21st century education. As an artist, arts educator, and arts administrator, I feel it’s important to consider the value of what the arts can teach, not only in the creation of the art, but the principles of artistic expression that are so relevant for success in today’s world. We have the ability to teach important life and leadership skills through the principles of artistic expression. In fact, these principles should not only guide what we do to provide a well-rounded education in a new age, but they’re an important guide in all of our lives as adults—whether parents, business or organizational leaders, administrators, educators, or artists.

 

Tears come from the heart and not from the brain.
~ Leonardo da Vinci

We know from empirical research and reports over the last few years that the arts can enhance learning in other subjects, but this shouldn’t take away the true value of what an in-depth awareness of the principles of artistic expression can provide. The arts can teach us so much more—a balanced mind and heart operating in a more expansive space beyond mere logic and reason. This is an incredibly powerful and creative space that uses the whole brain and connects seeing, hearing, and feeling in ways that nothing else can do. 
 

Through the artistic process of creating and performing there are important critical thinking skills that are developed, but perhaps more important in this new age are two major competencies invaluable to thriving in the 21st century:

Through creating, performing or exhibiting, responding, reflecting, describing, analyzing, synthesizing, interpreting, evaluating, refining, making and bringing ideas to life, the arts can teach flexibility and effective ways of dealing with ambiguity, compromise, and how to effectively collaborate with diverse groups of others. Learning through the arts inspires and reawakens the spirit of our inner child and gives us the confidence and courage to express what we find.  It’s the combination, a package of all of these things together and more, that places the arts in a powerful position to play a vital role in 21st century education. 
 

Imagination does not become great until human beings,
 given the courage and the strength, use it to create. 
~ Maria Montessori

 

It’s the responsibility of those of us who are artists, arts educators, arts advocates, and administrators to share these riches in a way that the world understands. In order to do so, we must become aware enough to learn how to connect what we do every day to the very principles of creating and expressing in art forms. Many mission statements and strategies say “we’re educating the whole child.” We read that statement all of the time, but what does it really mean? While no subject area alone can provide the depth of knowledge, imaginative competence, emotional intelligence, and creative awareness that’s needed to thrive in this new age, the arts can certainly provide a way of thinking that is not found in any other area of study. It should never be disregarded or overlooked. It’s an area of study that’s rich with the resources to empower students. The arts use the whole brain; their study allows students to thrive in this new age and has the potential to fuel the future for all of us.
 

Sometimes questions are more important than answers.
~ Nancy Willard

How can we do this for ourselves and for our children and students? It takes time and effort and commitment. It may be uncomfortable and a little messy at times along the way, but it is worth it. We all have inherent potential to continue to learn, to make connections we’ve never before considered, to reach our full potential, and to understand the full power of what we have to offer each day in our work and private lives. Let’s work on this together. I offer a wide range of speaking and consulting services for schools, school districts, college committees, organizations, group planning initiatives, parent groups and more. My workshop sessions, seminars, conference sessions, roundtables, in-service sessions, consulting work, and keynotes are customized around Arts Awareness concepts to meet your needs. Together we can set the foundation for a goal to be achieved, guide a project over time to its successful conclusion, develop an inspiring keynote presentation, create a collaborative team effort for an important initiative, and more. I’d love to meet you, hear about what you’re doing, and join you in an effort to envision and create new approaches that connect what you do to what is important in the new paradigm of living and succeeding in the contemporary world—teaching, administrating, leading, guiding, thriving, planning, and living life more fully. Keep an eye out; my upcoming appearances will soon be posted on my Arts Awareness website. 
 

If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old. 
~ Peter F. Drucker