National Arts in Education Week is from September 9-13, 2024. It is a nationwide celebration of the transformative power of the arts in education!
Passed by Congress in 2010, this week highlights the benefits of, and need for, the arts in education so that elected officials and educational decision-makers nationwide can find ways to support equitable arts access for students of all backgrounds.
Art class with my friends at Buda's Brightside
As we celebrate National Arts in Education Week, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the transformative power of the arts in our lives. This week honors the vital role that art plays in education and it's role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. It’s also a great time to reflect on the contributions of the artists and art educators who are at the center of arts education.
But as we celebrate, we must also acknowledge some uncomfortable truths - the stark disparities in access to arts education, the financial challenges faced by working artists, and the systemic barriers that prevent many artists from thriving.
The Financial Disparity in the Art World
The global art market was valued at $67.8 billion in 2022, according to Art Basel and UBS’s The Art Market 2023 report. High-profile auctions, gallery sales, and corporate collections give the impression of a thriving industry, but the artists at the heart of this ecosystem often struggle to make ends meet. It’s a jarring contradiction. While the art world flourishes as an economic sector, the artists' face income instability, limited opportunities, and undervaluation.
The median income for working artists in the U.S. is around $30,000 per year, according to the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). This is significantly lower than other professions requiring similar levels of education. Those working outside of high-profile galleries or major urban centers - particularly artists with disabilities, women, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists - face systemic challenges to achieving recognition and fair compensation. A report from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that women artists earn on average $0.75 for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.
Disparities in Access to Arts Education
This disparity is particularly clear in arts education. In my work as an art educator, particularly with students with disabilities, I witness the incredible potential of art to transform lives. Art fosters confidence, communication, and personal expression in ways few other subjects can. Yet, students with disabilities are 17% less likely to have access to arts education compared to their non-disabled peers, according to research from the National Endowment for the Arts. This gap deprives special needs students critical opportunities for self-expression, personal development, and emotional and cognitive benefits.
Founder of Joshua's Stage, Joshua Levy and my son Louis, after one of their performances.
The challenges don’t end there. According to Americans for the Arts, 93% of Americans believe the arts are essential to a well-rounded education, yet visual arts programs in public schools have declined by nearly 20%, dance education in elementary schools has dropped from 20% to just 3%, and theater classes have gone from being offered in 20% of schools to only 4%, since 2020. The effects of these cuts disproportionately impact students from low-income communities and students of color. A study by the National Endowment of the Arts shows that Black and Hispanic students are 30% less likely to have access to arts education compared to their White peers.
The Power of Art in Mental Health and Well-being
Arts education is not just about skill development - it’s essential for mental health and emotional well-being too. For many students, particularly those with emotional or behavioral challenges, the arts provide a therapeutic outlet for self-expression and healing. In an era where mental health challenges are rising among young people, the arts can play a key role in supporting their emotional health. Research from the American Art Therapy Association shows that students who participate in arts programs are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and three times more likely to participate in school leadership activities, demonstrating the holistic impact of the arts on personal development and mental health.
Barriers for Artists with Disabilities in the Professional Art World
Beyond arts education, artists with disabilities face significant barriers within the professional art world. Only 2% of professional artists represented in major galleries and museums identify as having a disability, according to the Disability Visibility Project, despite 25% of the U.S. population living with a disability. This major disparity in representation highlights the challenges artists with disabilities face in accessing galleries, exhibitions, and equitable funding opportunities. Without more inclusive practices, many talented artists remain marginalized and unseen.
The Impact of Technology and Digital Access on Arts Education
While technology has expanded access to the arts, it has also highlighted new disparities. Students in schools with limited technology resources are less likely to benefit from digital art tools, virtual museum visits, and online platforms offering free art classes. 15% of U.S. students from low-income households lack access to reliable internet or digital devices at home, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center report. This digital divide became even more apparent during the COVID pandemic, as students from low-income families struggled to access virtual education.
Interdisciplinary Benefits of Arts Education
The value of arts education extends far beyond artistic skills—it has interdisciplinary benefits that impact other areas of learning, such as literacy, math, and social sciences. Studies show that students who participate in arts programs tend to perform better academically and develop stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The arts encourage creative approaches to problem-solving and help students apply these skills across a variety of subjects.
A study by the College Board found that students who took four years of arts and music classes in high school scored 100 points higher on their SATs compared to students with less exposure to the arts. These interdisciplinary benefits make the case that arts education is not just an “extra” but a critical part of a well-rounded curriculum.
My kiddos - art has always been at the center of our homeschooling.
Conclusion
During National Arts in Education Week, let’s not only celebrate the beauty and impact of the arts; let’s also advocate for the artists, educators, and students behind it.
Art has the power to build connections, inspire empathy, and bridge cultural divides. Investing in artists and arts educators nurtures a thriving cultural ecosystem that uplifts everyone. Supporting the arts creates ripple effects that extend far beyond galleries and classrooms. It enhances community engagement, local economies, and social cohesion. When we ensure that all people - regardless of race, income, or ability - have access to arts education and opportunities to create, we lay the groundwork for a society that values diversity, creativity, and collaboration.
In prosperous artistic communities, the benefits are widespread: local businesses grow, public spaces come alive with creative energy, and people from all walks of life find common ground in shared artistic experiences. By advocating for the financial stability of artists and art teachers, we are investing in a future where creativity and cultural expression are accessible to all—and where the arts can continue to serve as a force for positive change in our world.
One of my friends at Buda's Brightside showing off her beautiful artwork.
Call To Action
Art transforms lives and the people who create it and teach it, deserve to thrive too!
Here’s how we can all take action:
Advocate for Arts Education Funding – Contact your local school boards and state representatives to push for the inclusion and expansion of arts programs in schools. Emphasize the importance of equitable access for all students, especially those from underserved communities.
Support Local Artists – Attend local art shows, buy work directly from artists, and share their creations with your networks. When you can, pay artists fairly for their work, whether it’s a painting, a song, or a performance.
Donate to Arts Organizations – Many nonprofits provide grants, resources, and platforms for marginalized artists, including those with disabilities. Consider donating to organizations that promote accessibility in the arts or offer scholarships to students pursuing creative fields. (Below I've listed some amazing organizations, doing great work, that I have personally worked with).
Raise Awareness – Use your voice on social media and in your community to highlight the disparities in arts education and the financial challenges artists face. Sharing stories, statistics, and personal experiences can help build a stronger case for action.
Incorporate Art in Your Life – Whether it’s encouraging your children to explore their creative side or volunteering in local arts education initiatives, integrating art into your daily routine can inspire others and help maintain a strong cultural fabric.
Support Policies for Inclusive Arts – Encourage galleries, museums, and arts organizations to adopt inclusive policies that ensure accessibility for artists with disabilities and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists. Advocate for fair representation in exhibitions, residencies, and grants.
By taking these steps, we can work toward a future where art is valued for its beauty and impact, AND for the well-being and prosperity of the artists and educators who make it all possible. When we support the arts and advocate for equity in access and compensation, we are not just enriching the lives of individual artists and students - we’re fostering stronger, more vibrant communities.
Our collaborative final performance with me (visual art educator), Joshua's Stage, Buda's Brightside, Tandem Arts Partnership and Inspired Minds Art Center.
Organizations who bring the arts to special needs communities in Central Texas that I have personally worked with. Please support them.
Buda's Brightside
The vision of Buda's Brightside is to provide a safe and nurturing place that is productive for adults with disabilities that honors and respects them as they are, and that continues to nurture their learning and self-advocacy.
Buda's Brightside also creates continuing education programs and certification training to address the needs of teachers and their student communities with special needs. From training on the latest HHCS (Texas Health & Human Services) requirements to new pedagogical methods, Buda's Brightside helps teachers make programs engaging and successful.
Art Spark Texas
Since 1996, Art Spark Texas has been challenging perceptions of how people contribute by creating an arts-inspired, inclusive community of individuals with and without disabilities.
Unboredroom
Unboredroom is an inclusion focused art studio, gallery & events organization for people with and without disabilities in Austin, Texas.
Joshua's Stage
Joshua’s Stage is an enrichment program for special needs individuals featuring After-School programs, Camps, Theater Arts, and Individual Enrichment Programs. At Joshua’s Stage, A+ is for acceptance, accessibility, and attentiveness for all abilities.
Tandem Arts Partnership and Inspired Minds Art Center
Tandem Arts Partnership is an inspiring initiative that seeks to further the mission of Inspired Minds Art Center to make the arts accessible to all members of the community. By uniting the local arts community and targeting those populations in need, the organization is helping to create a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere in Hays County, TX.
My summer class in AISD through Art Spark Texas
References
Art Market Value ($67.8 billion) – The Art Market 2023 report by Art Basel and UBS.
Median income for working artists in the U.S. ($30,000) – Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP).
Gender Wage Gap in the Arts (women earning 75 cents to every dollar) – National Endowment for the Arts, Artists and Arts Workers in the U.S..
Americans’ belief in the importance of arts education (93%) – Americans Speak Out About the Arts in 2018 survey by Americans for the Arts.
Decline in arts programs in public schools – U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: 1999-2000 and 2009-2010.
Students with disabilities 17% less likely to access arts education – National Endowment for the Arts, A Decade of Arts Engagement: Findings from the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, 2002-2012.
Disparity in arts education access for Black and Hispanic students (30%) – National Endowment for the Arts.
Benefits of arts participation (four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement) – American Art Therapy Association.
Artists with disabilities in major galleries (2%) – Disability Visibility Project report.
25% of the U.S. population living with a disability – U.S. Census Bureau.
15% of U.S. students from low-income households lacking internet access – Pew Research Center, Digital Divide Report 2020.
Students taking four years of arts and music scoring 100 points higher on SATs – The College Board, 2012 College-Bound Seniors Total Group Profile Report.
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