Imagine

Imagine a world without the arts…

What would it look like?

How would it feel?

Who would we be?

Have you ever learned a lesson from a movie?

Or laughed at a play?

Have you ever created your own art?

Or connected to someone else’s?

Imagine a world without the arts…

What would it look like?

How would it feel?

Who would we be?

Have you ever felt better after singing off tune?

Or dancing alone to your favorite song?

Have you ever been creative?

Or enjoyed just trying?

Imagine a world without the arts…

What would it look like?

How would it feel?

Who would we be?

“A dollar spent on the arts is never a dollar wasted. It is a dollar invested in the future that will pay a tremendous dividend” (Batt, 2008)

The arts contribute to the economy in a myriad of ways. Think of how many people go into the city to see a show at Geva Theater or laugh until they cry at the Auditorium Theater listening to a comedian on stage. Think of how many people spend the weekend at a concert or walking the pathways of their local arts festival. Think of how many children experience life hands-on by visiting one of Rochester’s many museums or watching a skit of their favorite storybook. Have you imagined a lot of people? Have you imagined a lot of money?

Investigating the arts, we have found that people spend a grand amount of money to support the arts in the world outside of our school buildings. However, our current education system provides little funding to support art programs within the school or to promote growth in the arts for our students. We feel this is unacceptable and harmful to our countries future.