2011-12-27
The Arts and Human Development
Framing a National Research Agenda for the Arts, Lifelong Learning, and Individual Well-Being
In March 2011, the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services hosted a first-of-its-kind event to showcase and discuss recent research on the arts and human development. The one-day forum examined the relationship between the arts and positive health and educational outcomes at various segments of the lifespan -- from early childhood, to youth and adolescence, to older adult populations. This white paper summarizes major themes from the forum, and highlights related studies. It also makes recommendations toward establishing a long-term federal partnership to promote research and evidence-sharing nationwide.
Human development describes a complex web of fac- tors affecting the health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan. Together, these factors yield cogni- tive and behavioral outcomes that can shape the social and economic circumstances of individuals, their levels of creativity and productivity, and overall quality of life.
Increasingly in the 21st century, U.S. policy leaders in health and education have recognized a need for strate- gies and interventions to address the whole person. They have urged a more integrated approach to policy developmentone that can reach Americans at various stages of their lives, across generations, and in multiple learning contexts.
The arts are ideally suited to promote this integrated approach. In study after study, arts participation and arts education have been associated with improved cognitive, social, and behavioral outcomes in individu- als across the lifespan: in early childhood, in adolescence and young adulthood, and in later years.
The studies include:
- Neuroscience research showing strong connections between arts learning and improved cognitive development;
- Small comparison group studies revealing the arts contributions to school-readiness in early childhood;
- Longitudinal data analyses demonstrating positive academic and social outcomes for at-risk teenagers who receive arts education; and
- Several studies reporting improvements in cognitive function and self-reported quality of life for older adults who engage in the arts and creative activities, compared to those who do not.
This emerging body of evidence appears to support a need for greater integration of arts activities into health and educational programs for children, youth, and older adults. Yet further research is necessary so that policy- makers and practitioners can understand the pathways and processes by which the arts affect human develop- ment, thereby enhancing the efficacy of arts-based prac- tices in optimizing health and educational outcomes for Americans of all ages.
National Endowment for the Arts
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