Arts Advocacy from Edutopia:

Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best, by Fran Smith

"'Art does not solve problems, but makes us aware of their existence,' sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz has said. Arts education, on the other hand, does solve problems. Years of research show that it's closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity."