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by Laurel Meny
A s the area’s leading arts organization, you

ARTS EDUCATION
know that the Naples Art Association
(NAA) recognizes – and promotes – the
importance of arts education for all. That
includes all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
And, while we have discussed how being creative has
been proven to extend your life and the quality of it,
this month is all about the children.
In recent years, we have all watched as school
curricula in the United States has shifted heavily
toward common core subjects including reading
and math. But, where does that leave the arts?
FOR ALL CHILDREN IN 2017
Some may view arts education as an extravagance,
but years of research show that it is simply not true.
Early childhood arts education is closely linked to
almost everything that we as a country say that we
desire for our children and request from our schools:
academic success; social and emotional development;
community engagement; and opportunity for all.
Arts education is associated with gains in math,
reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal
skill. Arts learning can also improve motivation,
concentration, confidence, and teamwork.
And, while many children in our area are fortunate
to come from affluent families who engage them
in the arts with museum visits, art courses, acting
lessons, and more from a young age – there are even
more children in our area who aren’t exposed to the
arts at all. In fact, in the past 20 years, children under
the age of 18 years living in poverty has increased
by 138 percent in Collier County, compared to an
overall of 44 percent in the State of Florida, and
over 60 percent of school-aged children in Collier
County are on free or reduced lunches. The NAA
helps bridge that gap that has left children behind.
“At the Naples Art Association, we have seen
first-hand that arts education enables children from
a financially-challenged background to have a more
level playing field with children who have had those