The New York Times and Education Week have both recently published articles presenting comprehensive new research which suggests that the interaction with art such as classes, residency programs and Museum visits does make kids smarter. This may not be breaking news, but these thorough investigations into the positive effects of the arts on students are exciting for the arts in education community.
Art Makes You Smart published in The New York Times describes how students who visit Museums have higher test scores, a greater sense of social responsibility and an increased appreciation of the arts. The article describes a two-year long study conducted at The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on how its student visitors (nearly 11,000 students) demonstrated stronger critical thinking skills than their peers.
Education Week published, Music Training Sharpens Brain Pathways, an article presenting new research that suggests the correlation between practicing an art form and greater cognitive development in students. The article focuses on how music training increases the neural connections in regions of the brain associated with creativity, decision making, and complex memory.
