The Huffington Post – Sarah Palferman
“In a recent article in the Times Education Supplement Sir Peter Bazalgette, the Chairman of Arts Council England, argues that a rich cultural education is the right of all children, bestowing benefits educationally, economically and socially. That this is undoubtedly true becomes self-evident when we consider how diminished our lives would be without just one facet of human experience that is nurtured through engaging children with the arts: imagination…Imagination is a key component of creative thinking and innovation, attributes that are significantly correlated with professional success and, as any casual perusal of the classifieds will reveal, are highly sought after, highly valued, and attract appropriate remuneration…Through the rich cultural education that all children deserve we can foster the development of imaginative capabilities that will excite them about the process of learning and help them to achieve their full academic potentials. We can enhance their social skills, imbue them with a mechanism for coping with adversity, and allow them to engage fully in both arts and sciences that will inspire and enrich their lives.”(more)