Art has been a central thread running through my life and has shaped how I understand the world and myself. Creating and studying art have taught me to observe more closely and I find calm in the act of making. Art has given me perspective and taught me that ideas, emotions, and struggles are shared across time and cultures. Studying art history has grounded me in something larger than my own experience. 

In my own and many high schools, athletics and traditional academic subjects are consistently prioritized over the arts.  This imbalance overlooks the arts’ role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, and it sends the message that artistic pursuits are less valuable than athletic achievement or test-driven academic success.

I am deeply concerned about the reduction of funding for the arts in K-12 education in the U.S. Schools have cut art programs in schools and reduced access to visual arts, music and theater for many young people. As a result, the numerous benefits of the arts – greater academic achievement, improved critical thinking and problem solving, boosting confidence and creativity, and enhanced emotional development– are jeopardized.

ARTSpread is dedicated to educating people about the critical importance of arts programs for the development of children and young adults. By interviewing influential leaders, teachers and students in the arts community, I hope to shed light on this issue and its ramifications. Put simply, by cutting funding for arts, society loses.
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Let's work together to bring awareness to this critical issue and protect the arts!

Lila Stern

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