| A Publication of the Region 2 Arts Council | Vol. 6 No. 3 | Apr/May, 2002 |
Guest Commentary |
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Live theatre is more than just getting the show up. We have the potential to change lives. One need only look to the increased demand by business and government leaders for a more creative work force - one that can think originally, operate collectively, and is better trained to solve complex problems - to see the necessity of the vision for arts education. By participating in theatre, music ensemble, and other collaborative arts, children learn that there is a time to be individuals, a time for conforming, a time to be a star and a time to be a contributing member of a team. Arts education builds critical thinking skills, workforce skills and values that connect students to their own culture and civilization. As in the business world, all the arts are related to either product or performance and often both. The arts encourage school participation which is especially important for young people who are at risk. Participation in arts programs can make the difference in forming the personal vision of students that have been unable to find a comfortable niche elsewhere. On a daily basis, I have occasion to spew out information to children, parents, funding organizations and members of our business community on the importance of the arts in our lives and in our children's lives. Everyone listens politely, nods, smiles and resumes prior activities and I am left wondering if it is being dismissed as hype and r rhetoric; or, indeed, if it was even heard. The difference in my experience in working continually in the world of theatre is the term commonly referred to in the advocacy business as "Grass Roots". |
I don't sit in an office and read facts & figures and the conclusions of paid surveys. I watch children grow from their first audition and the fear of letting go of Mom's hand, to young adults that arrive at the door as budding professionals - mature and confident and ready to take on the world. Theatre and the arts in general are certainly not the only avenue of education that promote growth and maturity in our young people. If your children want to play football or basketball or compete in Math contests or study government - by all means, support them in these endeavors. But if you are harboring a visual artist in your home, or a singing football player or dramatic track star, please recognize the importance of identifying and supporting these interests. Also, recognize the importance of supporting the organizations that supply the resources for these activities. Arts education isn't about statistics - it is about real people, real children and the freedom to explore their interests and build the character that will shape their lives. In a commencement address given by Bill Nye the Science Guy, he stated, "Passion makes things happen. Careful thought makes great things happen." Pay close attention to the passions that motivate our children. Give careful thought to the role of arts education in their lives. The future success of our children will reflect, in direct proportion, our commitment as a community to education in all its various disguises. Karen Millar-Moe is the Executive Director of the Paul Bunyan Playhouse;<pbphouse@paulbunyan.net> |
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