local arts rapid response toolkit
The Virtues
Americans for the Arts believes that the arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities and our nation:
- Aesthetics: The arts create beauty and preserve it as part of culture
- Creativity: The arts encourage creativity, a critical skill in a dynamic world
- Expression: Artistic work lets us communicate our interests and visions
- Identity: Arts goods, services, and experiences help define our culture
- Innovation: The arts are sources of new ideas, futures, concepts, and connections
- Preservation: Arts and culture keep our collective memory intact
- Prosperity: The arts create millions of jobs and enhance economic health
- Skills: Arts aptitudes and techniques are needed in all sectors of society and work
- Social Capital: We enjoy the arts together, across races, generations, and places
(From the Americans for the Arts National Arts Index, Roland Kushner and Randy Cohen)