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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

The Importance of Fine Arts in Education and

the Impact it has on Growth Research

Stacey Patish

Appalachian State University

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

Abstract
The modern educational curriculum puts arts in a place of unimportance compared to typical core

classes due to the stigma of art being a nonessential part of everyday adult life for the majority of

people. The vast benefits of exposing students to the arts is overlooked due to the belief that art

doesn’t teach valuable life lessons and is subjective to those who can create “good” art. Art plays

an essential role in the brain development of young children and promotes learning emotional

control of older children and adults. Studies have shown that the introduction of art at a young age

helps develop various cognitive functions such as fine motor skills and mental imaging. The

objective of art classes in school isn’t to train students to be better at art or judge students based

on their quality of art. The objective is to require students to develop a deeper understanding of

themselves and others and express this through their work. By learning to think on a deeper

emotional level, students gain the ability to have greater emotional control, leading to fewer violent

outburst and conflicts. This paper explains why art is critical to creating stable, well-adjusted adults.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

The Importance of Fine Arts in Education

and the Impact it has on Growth

In the average education system, fine arts are often looked down upon. From

kindergarten through the senior year of college, students are required to pass several courses in

math, history, science, and language while artistic classes are offered as an elective and are not

required to proceed through the education system. Many times, art classes are considered trivial

and unnecessary for a successful adult life. However, art classes contain valuable lessons of

expression, interpretation, and self-discovery. Art helps develop cognitive functions such as fine

motor skills. In older students, art helps create a better understanding of emotions, in turn leading

to greater emotional control and emotional expression. Through art, students can express

themselves in a way words cannot. Art exercises the creative part of the brain, leading to

alternative ways of thinking and unique individual thought processes.

Usually people question the benefit of art classes. Art classes force students to do more

than memorize information for a grade. Students need to express themselves to complete

assignments, which reaches students on an emotional level. Learning is based on how well you

use technique and the meaning behind your work. This allows students to connect on a deeper

level when they interact. Due to the ambiguity of art, students must become self-reliant and lead

themselves along the progression of the assignment. They need to think for themselves to

develop their work, they need to pace themselves, they are required to be responsible for

themselves. Art classes encourage independent thinking and problem solving, which cannot be

learned in a math, history, science, or language class. Art classes promote deeper thinking and
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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

getting in tune with emotions, which gives students the ability to better communicate how they

feel with others, leading to the ability to work out problems and differences in a mature way

(Bryant, n.d.).

From a more scientific perspective, art influences the way young brains develop. During

the early stages of life, activities such as drawing target almost all cognitive senses, leading these

senses to develop stronger as one ages. When a child draws, they associate every color and shape

with something specific. They try to replicate an image as accurately to what they envision as

possible. This develops memory and the ability to recall events based on associated images. The

fundamental ability to associate colors and shapes with memories is a basic cognitive function

that would not be possible without exposure to artistic crafts (Sousa, n.d.). Exposure to art later

in life assists in developing fine motor skills, cultural awareness, and even language. Starting

small with finger painting, motor skills gradually develop through art with the introduction of

new utensils. Solid lines with paint brushes, cutting paper with scissors, coloring within lines,

etc. In older children, exposure to art of various cultures expands their understanding of foreign

backgrounds. Knowing how art evolved and changed over time as civilization advanced gives

insight into how things may be in the future (Lynch, 2012). Children who aren’t given the

opportunity or incentive to explore the skills developed in art may not develop as well as those

who do. Art should be a valued part of the common curriculum to ensure students have a well-

rounded education of emotions and expression.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

Based on this information, I propose a policy to make enrolling in and passing art classes

a key part of basic education. From kindergarten to the senior year of high school it should be

required to attend an art class each year and pass the class. The class will not be based on a

student’s ability to create, but on their ability to properly execute technique and discuss or

explain their work. As the age of students increases with grade level, the assigned work should

increase in complexity to require students to think more seriously as they mature. With this

policy implemented, it is my hope that students have a better grasp of their own emotions and

have a better understanding on how others feel, resulting in fewer violent conflicts and

arguments. With a greater control of emotions, students should become more emotionally stable

and less aggressive. Additionally, requiring students to take art classes could serve as a

therapeutic break from more intensive classes. Students get a chance to decompress and destress

by expelling their negative emotions through their art. Once students have a chance to calm their

minds in art, they can go to their next class refreshed and more focused, thus performing better.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS

References
Bryant, B. (n.d.). The Importance of Fine Arts Education. Retrieved from Fine Arts Department:
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/finearts/Pages/The-Importance-of-Fine-Arts-
Education-.aspx
Lynch, G. H. (2012, May 25). The Importance of Art in Child Development. Retrieved from PBS
Parents: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-importance-of-art-in-child-
development/
Sousa, D. A. (n.d.). How the Arts Develop the Young Brain. Retrieved from The School
Superintendents Association:
http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=7378