As chair of the Kent Arts Commission, I would like to respond to Mr. Kohler’s May 6 letter, “Free Up Funds by Using Arts Dollars.” Mr. Kohler portrays the arts as non-essential services that come at the expense of educating our young people.
While we share Mr. Kohler’s passion for education, he is unaware of the facts. Kent Arts Commission programs are essential to the vitality of our community and integral to the lives of individuals, especially our K-12 students.
Students today need an education rich in the arts. The Conference Board (serving the Fortune 1000 US companies) recently released “Ready to Innovate,” a study providing evidence that connects the arts to creativity and innovation. Academic research shows that students with an education that includes the arts have better grade point averages, score better on standardized tests, have lower drop-out rates, and even better SAT scores. These benefits are reaped by students regardless of socioeconomic status.
We frequently work with schools to offer arts experiences in educational settings. Up to 1,000 Kent students receive arts instruction from professional performing artists each year as a part of Kent Arts Commission programs, and Kent Kids’ Arts Day provides hands-on opportunities for 1,500 kids to explore and exercise creativity.
The arts encourage creativity and innovation, critical skills in a dynamic world and in all sectors of society and work. I am proud of the Kent Arts Commission’s role in bringing the arts to our community and schools. Funds directed toward arts programs in Kent are extremely valuable. As we face modern economic and social challenges, we can’t afford not to fund the arts.
Dana Ralph
Kent
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