THe importance of art education within our society and educational systems - Essay Example

Why Art Education is Important to Me There are a variety of reasons why I believe that art education is an essential element within society and educational systems. One of the most prominent reasons I believe art education is important is that the skills learned are important for personal development and the overall betterment of society. While many critics of art curriculum argue that it constitutes a sort of leisure or superfluous element of education, I believe that in reality the skills that individuals gain are important for the development of individual ingenuity and creativity – factors important for success in life.

In these regards, one might consider the purpose behind including mathematics in education. In great part, individuals will never directly use the mathematical skills they gain in real life situations, however the challenge and process of solving the equations can be transferred to challenges later in life; in the same regards, an art education can be implemented in future careers and life scenarios. In addition to the importance art education has for developing skills, I also believe it is important as it imbues students with a sense of cultural appreciation.

When one considers that in great part the function of museums that exhibit art is to highlight the cultural significance of the specific time period or cultural milieu in which the work was created, it is clear that learning about and understanding art is important for the very fabric of society. In this respect, art appreciation allows individuals an added perspective into the historical nature of past and current cultures. This appreciation makes individuals more intelligent and open-minded, benefitting both themselves and the world in which they live.