Voices of the Arts: Exposure to arts brings balance for youth
Just as you want your child to grow up with a balanced diet, the arts and creativity are a necessary nutrient for youth as they grow and foster their imagination.
Lack of exposure and opportunities within the arts leads to an unbalanced life. Just like fruits, vegetables, calcium and protein, the arts provide a key ingredient crucial for innovative development preparing the next generation for success.
The arts teach essential skills and creativity to prepare children for their futures. Exposure and participation in the arts require them to be creative, coming up with new ways to recite the same monologue in theater for example or sketch a subject in an abstract way. Practicing creative and innovative ideas helps it become second nature and makes it easier for children to continue to express their creativity later in life.
Additionally, many arts disciplines require working as a team, such as a dance production or music ensemble, teaching youth how to work collectively with others and realize that all roles, large and small, are important.
Developing an arts skill may not come easily for everyone, but through dedication and perseverance, improvement is possible and goals can be met. Participation in the arts teaches kids not to give up when something is tough, another essential life skill.
Thankfully, the Fox Cities has a bounty of arts opportunities for children to gain arts experience and achieve essential skill growth: opportunities in music, theater, visual arts, art history, and so much more. Perhaps taking music lessons at Heid Music or Lawrence Academy of Music or learning a new hands-on craft at Pinot’s Palette or The Fire pique interest — there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The area offers opportunities to explore creativity at The Building For Kids Children’s Museum’s da Vinci Studio, to visit The Trout Museum of Art to interpret and study the awe-inspiring masterpieces, and to even be part of a team with the Appleton Boy Choir.
In the effort to provide the community with arts accessibility for all, organizations partner together to offer various free events to explore the arts. Creative Kids, a free community art event occurring on the third Friday of the month June through August, transforms Houdini Plaza in downtown Appleton into an outdoor creative studio for the afternoon. Through make and take art projects, story time, dance, live music, and so much more — all five of the senses are filled with art. The first Creative Kids event kicks off 3:30 to 6 p.m. Friday — perfect for the summertime arts imagination and creative diet.
This wide variety of arts opportunities allows youth to be well-versed, well-prepared, and well-nourished for accomplishing greatness in their future. With the additional benefits achieved from the arts, we are building strong, healthy and innovative leaders in the next generation. It is a necessity for youth to experience the arts and feed their creativity.
Lynn Schemm is the marketing director with Appleton Downtown Inc., a member of the Fox Arts Network. FAN is a grassroots arts organization made up of nonprofit arts groups serving the Fox Cities and surrounding communities with a goal of encouraging trial in all art forms. Email email@example.com.
VOICES OF THE ARTS
A community columnist from the Fox Valley arts community writes on issues, trends and observations from the arts world each week in Life. Today’s columnist is Lynn Schemm, marketing director with Appleton Downtown Inc.