According to U.S. employers, creativity is one of the top three personality traits most important to career success. Additionally, Americans for the Arts research shows that arts education:

Increases:

  • student engagement and achievement

  • high school and college graduation rates

Improves: 

  • short and long-term memory

  • communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity skills

The Need

“With national attention focused on the need for an engaged workforce capable of creative critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, one would imagine that arts education would be a national priority. However, for many children in our schools, their arts education is episodic, a hit-or-miss opportunity, available to only some students some of the time.” – Kennedy Center

 Even though the benefits of a comprehensive arts education are clear, too often a child’s arts education is uneven throughout the school year and from year-to-year. Unlike other subjects such as math – which is taught sequentially and is offered each year – music, dance, drama, and visual arts may be taught one year and not the next. While some students have access to a music or visual art teacher, most have no access to drama or dance instruction and with students’ opportunities outside of school varying widely, not all students can access the arts at home. 

This is why SPARK! Arts has made it our mission to ensure that all K - 8 MCPS students have access to the Arts during the school day.