What sets job candidates apart from one another or from artificial intelligence (AI) in the workforce? A report by the World Economic Forum noted that creative thinking skills are a top priority, followed by problem solving, adaptability, and leadership skills.

“Art teaches creative thinking strategies because we’re using different parts of the brain to access information and process visuals,” declares Tara Holeman, art teacher at Learn4Life, a network of 85 public high schools in the US. “Among my favorite things about teaching art is seeing students develop skills in creative thinking, working collaboratively and gaining confidence through self-expression.”

Teachers at Learn4Life see firsthand the benefits of visual arts classes and extracurricular activities focused on the arts.  And it’s those skills that employers are looking for. More than 73 percent of organizations reported creative thinking skills are a top priority in hiring talent, and they agreed that this skill set is increasing in relevance and importance. 

“So even if students don’t plan to pursue a career in the arts, the skills they learn will help them stay competitive in today’s workforce,” adds Holeman. “Approximately 40 percent of our brain is dedicated to visual processing, making it a critical skill to analyze and interpret the visual information that surrounds us.”

While most educators agree that the arts should be widely available for students, when schools experience budget shortfalls, it’s typically the art and music classes that get cut. 

Holeman points out that sometimes students are reluctant to sign up for an art class because they think that you must be talented to enroll.

“So, we start off with the fundamentals of drawing and they learn how to see things as an artist. They begin to gain confidence and develop their own style,” she says. “Many of our students have had very little art experience, so I try to make the projects accessible to all levels, and give them the freedom to experiment and explore so that everyone is successful.”

One student who blossomed from Holeman’s art classes bravely entered some of her pieces in the Fresno State Fair and won several awards. She continues to enter and win other art awards. Building her portfolio, she has also helped design and paint a community mural.

“I’m so proud of her,” beams Holeman. “I am just as proud, however, of those students who were timid at the start of class yet learned to take new creative risks and persevere to find their own authentic style.” www.Learn4Life.org. (AP)