American Theatre Wing President Writes Passionate Op-Ed on Arts Education

Heather Hitchens, the President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, published an op-ed today in The Huffington Post discussing the importance of arts education in America in light of National Arts Education Week.

"One week, out of fifty-two, feels like table scraps in an age when the national struggle to make sure every child has access to artistic and cultural resources is so severe," Hitchens begins.

Despite loads of data about the positive impact the arts have on young people's lives, Hitchens writes that kids are "slipping through the cracks" due to "money and myopia."

"Personally, as President of an organization with the mission of making sure that we have the next generation on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience, this is troubling," she writes. "We must stop viewing arts education as a luxury item. Let's start seeing it for what it is: an essential tool for developing minds, hearts, and communities that needs to be widely available for our next generation to take advantage of."

Hitchens includes a list of ways arts education affects other aspects of learning. For the full list and the rest of her op-ed, read her article on The Huffington Post.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride