Why Art Matters

Dr. Linda F. Nathan is the founding head of Boston Arts Academy, Boston’s first high school for the visual and performing arts. Her pioneering work not only shapes artists, but incorporates the arts as an empowering tool for civic engagement and social reforms. In the video below, she explains how this works—and describes the effects she sees in her students and audiences.

 

Why do the arts matter?
In 2015, National Endowment of the Arts staff -- including artists, critics, teachers, and theorists -- were asked a simple but crucial question: Why do the arts matter? The essay below is a collection of some of their responses.

Why The Arts Matter Download Why The Arts Matter

You tell us why the arts matter...
In turn, we'd like to hear your own answer to this question. You can submit through this form Links to an external site.; we'll collect responses, and share some of them during the PCTA presentation during NSO.