The general importance of arts and culture to the society has been assumed for a long time, while the fine points have just as long been contested. Try to envisage our society without the civilizing significance of the arts, and you’ll have to get rid of all pleasurable things in life, and much that is socially essential and educationally significant.

Without the cumulative resources of our museums, galleries, theaters and libraries, or without the individual expression of art, music and literature, life would not only be static, but also sterile. There would be no creative debates about the past, no varied and though- provoking present, and no imaginations of the future. Of course you may argue that the inherent importance of arts and culture is, to some extent a reflective assertion that cannot be measured in figures.

However, when talking about the importance of arts and culture, we must always begin with the innate or intrinsic. We should consider how arts and culture light up our inner lives, as well as embellish our emotional world. The importance of arts and culture can be seen in the impact on our mental and physical health, our social wellbeing and unity, our education system, our economy, and national status.

Health and Wellbeing

According to a recent scientific study, it was established that those who had visited a cultural event or place in the previous twelve months were 60 percent more likely to report better health in comparison to those who never attended. The study findings also suggested that theater-goers were 25 percent more likely to report better health.

Economy

The arts and culture industry generates a significant amount of revenue to a country’s economy. The subgroups of the arts and culture business’s productive activities of performing arts, artistic creation, and book publishing are some of the greatest contributors to the industry’s cumulative turnover performance. Additionally, the arts and culture industry directly and indirectly employs a significant portion of a country’s workforce.

Society

The importance of arts and culture can be seen in terms of social development. In a recent study that was conducted in the UK, it was established that high-school students who actively participate in the arts at school are two times more likely to volunteer as compared to those who do not participate in the arts. The study also established that such students were 20 percent more likely to vote in local and national elections as young adults. Additionally, students who study the arts are more likely to find employment and stay in employment.

Education

Participating in library activities and drama helps to improve literacy attainment. Similarly, participating in structured or organized music activities helps to improve attainment in early language acquisition, early literacy, and in math. In the US, schools that have integrated the arts across the study curriculum tend to perform better that similar schools that don’t.

There is strong evidence to suggest that participating in arts can promote community cohesion, minimize social isolation and exclusion, and make communities stronger and safer.