There are many benefits in participating in a visual arts program including:

• Engage the senses - the whole experience is important
• Express emotions, tell a story, or just enjoy the materials
• Learn new skills, explore your creative side
• Work in a comfortable and supportive environment
• Have as much or as little physical involvement as desired
• Improve eye/hand coordination, good right/left brain activity
• Leave class relaxed and renewed
• Learn to communicate through visual means
• Combine skills & ideas - physical, mental, psychological / emotional, spiritual
• Discover how flexible projects and media are
• Find great success no matter what is explored
• Realize that everyone has creative potential and ability
• Boost confidence
• Increase social interaction
• Improved health and/or healing, and overall wellbeing

Many skills are further developed by participating in an arts program, including: 

• Cognitive skills
• Imagination
• Creative abilities
• Problem solving
• Fine motor skills
• Language and general communication
• Social skills
• Sense of time, place, history
• Ability to focus and concentrate
• Listening skills
• Risk taking
• Tolerance, acceptance, cultural understanding, respect
• Individuality and community awareness

Benefits to the Community

• People of all ages and abilities can participate
• No previous knowledge or skills are required
• People with arts experience make more well-rounded, creative employees
• Skills are enhanced in critical thinking, analyzing, interpreting, problem solving, communicating, etc.
• Arts are linked into physical, human and social capital
• Youth involved in the arts generally perform better in school, have better attendance, participate in more math & science activities, join youth groups, read more, etc
• The arts help create life-long learners who are participants in, and promoters of, the cultural opportunities and diversity in their community