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• 1 2020-11-09T04:53:11+00:00 Arts in Education 37 Arts in Education plain 2020-11-23T03:37:59+00:00 Art is the one thing that is able to bring people of all cultures, religions, and ethnicities together. Now more than ever, people are turning towards the arts as a way to cope with the current stresses of the world. While anyone can become an artist, most art education in the United States begins in school.  While the importance of art in education is highly disputed, the arts are vital to teaching young students valuable life skills. 

  Teamwork: a combined action performed by a group  of people. Even during a pandemic, art cannot occur without collaboration. From performing in a middle school concert, to creating a popular TV show, artists across the world must collaborate before anyone can become successful. 

  Leadership: the action of leading a group of people or an organization.  Not only is leadership a highly valued skill in any profession, but students who take art will often times get a chance to be a leader. Leadership looks different for everyone; sometimes this means starring in a play, while other times this is being principle chair of the section.  

  Problem solving: the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. Yet another important skill every adult needs to have. Students in the arts are often faced with difficult problems, often times in the form of recovering from mistakes.
  
  Being one of the first programs traditionally cut from a school’s budget, the arts do not have the easiest time lobbying for themselves. However, with the onset of the pandemic, things have taken a turn for the worse for young artists and educators. Musical ensembles have been condemned to being “super spreaders” for the covid-19 pandemic. While the ever so popular theater saying is “the show must go on”, this is not the case anymore. The restrictions that come with the current pandemic simply leave arts out of the picture, as it is not feasible. While some schools are making the best out of the current situation, difficulties ensue. 

  Challenges of Arts in Public Schools

  With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, many nonprofits are struggling. Some people do not realize that public schools are considered nonprofit organizations, and undergoing many of their own difficulties. An interview with Elizabeth Singer, choir director at Perry Local Schools, sheds some light on the impacts Covid-19 has had on the performing arts in public schools. When asked about the financial impact that the pandemic has had on her program, Mrs. Singer makes it a point to mention that Perry Local Schools is lucky compared to other districts. Perry has a booster organization for the performing arts, known as the Theater Guild.

  The Perry Theater Guild works to provide meals for students during rehearsals, volunteers at performances, and give away scholarships at the end of each year. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the Theater Guild is struggling to earn money. While performances were never ticketed, concessions typically helped raise money for the program. With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, concessions are no longer being sold. Additionally, one of the biggest fundraising events is the Perry Show Choir Festival, which was not able to happen this year due to pandemic restrictions. In turn, Singer claims that this has caused some holes in funding. However, while Singer says her program is not currently at risk, if the pandemic continues to prolongs itself , the performing arts programs at Perry Local Schools, will have tremendous difficulties. Many districts across the United States are already seeing these effects on their programs, but it will only continue to get worse. 
  
  When arts programs are cut from public schools, students have to find outside sources if they have a desire to learn, or participate in the arts. Luckily, there are non-profit organizations that provide these opportunities for under privileged children. 

  MusicLink Foundation is a national foundation with an overarching goal of providing music lessons to all students, especially those in financial need. In their mission statement, MusicLink claims to match students with professional music teachers while reducing fees in order to make it more accessible. 

  
  
  Similarly, Joyful Noise is located near the west side of Cleveland and believes that music has the power to transform lives. Joyful Noise’s mission is to provide students with free private music lessons and a free loan of instruments. In order to make their mission a reality, Joyful Noise currently has 19 teachers, all of whom are unpaid volunteers.