The arts have a place for everyone and allow people to make meaningful connections with others. I have seen recent news articles and reports examining how many people, from children to adults, are struggling with loneliness and social disconnection. It is disturbing to see a trend where many individuals feel like they do not belong and are unable to find people or spaces that welcome them, regardless of culture, identity or background. In 2022, the MCI Institute explained that studies have shown that involvement in the arts strengthens social relationships.
As an art educator and a mother of a couple of art enthusiasts, I have seen real connections and generational gaps bridged through participation in the arts and arts education. Through the visual arts, theater, dance and music, people are invited to come together to create and also connect. The arts can bring strangers together and create opportunities to build understanding and relationships that are not always easily created in the mundane settings of the everyday.
While arts education is important to students, community art programs play a vital role in making the arts available to everyone. Whether attending or participating in a local art show, signing up for a dance workshop, auditioning for a play, or volunteering at an arts event, these opportunities will help people connect with others. Everyone has a place in the arts, regardless of their age, background or skill level. Being involved in the arts gives a sense of truly belonging to a community.
For anyone feeling isolated or unsure where they might fit in, consider exploring your local arts community. Your new friends and perhaps a renewed sense of belonging await you there.
Camille Grimshaw, South Jordan