Arts in International Development: What are the Benefits?

Whether you enjoy watching a Broadway show in Manhattan; or sipping a cup of coffee and reading poetry in your backyard; or admiring a framed picture of a sea turtle created by your five-year old son, you must certainly have a proclivity for the arts. The arts, which comes in various forms (literature, performing arts, visual arts, etc) is “a documented expression of a sentient being through or an accessible medium so that anyone else can view, hear or experience it”.

One of my favorite kinds of the arts is dance, mostly contemporary West African dance, which is very energetic and high-spirited. Generally, I enjoy dancing because it makes me happy and boosts my confidence. It is also one of the ways I connect with people around me. Studies have shown that the arts have some therapeutic benefits: reduces stress; improves the well-being of individuals that experience illnesses and trauma; encourages personal growth and increases interpersonal skills. Furthermore, research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) revealed that the Arts have a huge impact on youth of low socioeconomic status. The NEA discovered that the youth that have increased exposure to the arts have “better academic outcomes, higher career goals and are more civically engaged”.

Besides, the arts have several advantages and are incorporated in global development to benefit underprivileged communities around the world. The Arts for Global Development, Inc a non-profit organization assert, “the arts inspires creativity, gives hope, empowers individuals, brings new perspectives on processes, and offers unconventional results that stimulate innovation, the development of new industries, creating jobs, products and services, economic well-being and quality of life”. One of the initiatives the NGO is involved in is UgandArts, which is a program designed to assist the Friends of Orphans (FRO) in Northern Uganda to empower women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and conflict. One of the ways Arts for Global Development, Inc supports the FRO is via gathering of musical instruments such as trumpets and base drums.

So, just as individuals would love to read poems on the porch or watch a group of performers jump, twist and turn on stage in New York City for the purposes of pleasure, other people would also utilize the arts for therapy and empowerment of vulnerable communities. Thus, the arts have benefits on both personal and societal levels.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_arts

http://www.arttherapy.org/upload/whatisarttherapy.pdf

http://art4development.kianavaie.com/

http://arts.gov/news/2012/new-nea-research-report-shows-potential-benefits-arts-education-risk-youth