A. Researcher Howard Spector suggests that active art experiences benefit all age groups by providing individuals with the means to freely and creatively express themselves. Self-expression, in turn, promotes individuality, bolsters self-confidence and improves motivation and attitudes towards academic performance. Both active and passive art experiences can provide the benefits of discovery, stimulation and relaxation (Oliphant 2000). Furthermore, people's participation in art enhances their development and expands their thoughts about culture. In short, art can make individuals more socially conscious.
B. Communities committed to providing opportunities for experiencing art are considered more livable because they are attractive to businesses and industry and they offer a higher quality of life for residents (Riley 2002). Tourism is strongly linked to art; art is believed to stimulate tourism in a community, and vice versa. Art-related tourism generates tourists and revenue, attracts high-income consumers, extends the tourist season and is a 'green' form of the industry (Hughes 2000). Revitalization efforts have increased in many cities because of the strong presence of art opportunities. Art programs can be highly effective in reducing community problems related to delinquent behavior and truancy in youth (Spector 2000). The Philadelphia Department of Recreation Mural Arts Program (MAP) is one such program. It began in the early 1980s when the city undertook to remove graffiti in the city while creating a positive, productive and creative outlet for adjudicated graffiti artists, as they used their talents to beautify public spaces through the creation of murals, instilling a sense of pride, excellence, diligence and civic responsibility.
C. In recognition of these and other benefits, communities are finding many ways to ensure that the public is provided with opportunities to experience art. Public art programs are one way. These programs are typically administered by government, which commissions or mandates works of art for display in public spaces. Public art works can include street furniture, decorations, paving and landmarks, and may take on many forms, including sculpture, decorative ironwork, mosaic flooring and murals. The primary purpose of public art is to bring art into everyday life, to energize public spaces and to arouse society's thinking and imagination.
D. Despite the significant benefits that art participation can offer to individuals and communities, only 35 percent of the American adult population visit museums or galleries at least once during the year, and only about 25 percent attend a live performance (Bradshaw 1998). Even fewer (14 percent) participate directly in photography, painting, drawing, sculpting, dance (other than ballet), creative writing or classical music. If art experiences are so beneficial, why aren't more people participating? To help researchers shed light on this question, the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through objective research and analysis, developed 'A Behavior Model of the Participant Decision', which can be used to investigate people's inclinations about participating in an art activity (Yoshitomi 2000). According to Yoshitomi, each person has a disposition related to his or her interest in engaging in an art activity; a person's disposition is based on sociodemographic characteristics, social or cultural identity, personality and previous experience. The RAND model clusters participants into three groups according to their disposition toward art participation: those disinclined to participate; those inclined to participate; and those currently participating.
E. The RAND findings reveal that the disinclined perceive themselves as being uncomfortable or unfamiliar with art. This disposition might occur among people who do not value art and who have not received art education, or who perceive themselves as unsophisticated or lacking skill to participate. The inclined are interested in participating, but may be constrained by particular barriers such as cost, time, and proper attire. Current participants are those who are involved, and influence or encourage others to participate. Researchers suggest that a strong relationship exists between childhood and adult art participation rates. Individuals with a greater number of childhood art experiences are more likely to have higher rates of participation as adults. Although 90 percent of Americans believe art instruction is important for children and should be offered in schools, almost 40 percent of schools either offer no art instruction or have art instructors with no formal art training.
F. One recreation organization working to make sure children get exposed to art is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which offer two innovative programs: The National Photography Program and the National Fine Arts Exhibit. Both are designed to get children excited about art. The photography program promotes new art that is technologically produced, including video and computer graphics, but primarily focuses on photography. The program provides club members with the opportunity to achieve personal growth and receive artistic recognition through instruction in photography. Participants also display their work at local, regional and national photography contests. The second program is the Fine Arts Exhibit. This encourages artistic expression, creativity, cultural appreciation and the development of artistic skills through classes, special events, exhibits and competitions. It allows participants to explore a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, print making, collage and sculpture. Because art experiences provide so many important benefits to individuals and communities, it is important for community programs to facilitate opportunities and provide encouragement to increase participation in a variety of programs.