Creative Arts

Creative Arts in Remote Learning: Visual Arts and Textiles 

Artistic pursuits have always held importance in an educational setting, and they continue to do so as we work from home. 

• Visual and creative arts help develop fine and gross motor skills in younger children as they develop eye-hand coordination. For older students, these skills are used to help understand complex ideas like relationships, shapes, and numbers. 
• Through the study of art, music, theatre, and dance, students develop an understanding of history and culture,  and how cultures change from region to region and across time.  
• The practice of art and creativity also help develop problem-solving skills, a critical skill for success in life. By engaging in artistic activities and study, students develop confidence in their abilities, and they learn how to innovate. 
• In a structured educational world, the arts encourage risk-free exploration, and this freedom helps build confidence in our students. 
• There is strong evidence of the importance of wellness, mental health and creative pursuits. Creative Arts like poetry, journaling, painting and drawing are often used by therapists for mental health. It can be a way of expressing emotions, a self-soothing activity and a way to make sense of our reality. 

I hope you enjoy these beautiful works some of our Textiles and Visual Arts students have created while learning from home over the last 2 weeks. You might even be inspired to create something yourself. 

References:  

The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature (nih.gov)  

Why Art and Creativity are Important for Kids - The Edvocate (theedadvocate.org)