According to Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and promoting the arts in the United States, not only are the arts beneficial in themselves, but they also strengthen local economies by increasing tourism, boosting sales for local merchants, and improving health care. Perhaps most importantly, though, the organization claims that arts improve academic performance. Statistics show that art students outperform non-arts students on SATs, and are more likely to graduate from high school and find better jobs. Early childhood arts education has been shown to improve vocabulary, communication and memory in young children, and the use of performing arts to teach math has had a significant positive effect on pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students’ achievements.
Arkansas Learning Through The Arts (ALTTA) was formed in March 2012 to encourage students to learn by integrating the arts into the educational experience. ALTTA programs, custom-tailored to school curriculums, make connections between three usually disparate groups – certified art teachers, certified non-arts teachers, and professional artists – to bring the arts into classrooms as part of an integrated learning experience. Professional teaching artists from all over Arkansas conduct two or three hour workshops – in conjunction with lesson plans – in which they talk about their art, perform, and engage students in creating stories through various art forms.
ALTTA was the brainchild of Village resident Martha Smither, who explained, “Young Audiences in Dallas (now called Big Thought) started nearly 30 years ago with six artist groups creating workshops that integrated with student learning. Teachers immediately embraced the program, because they witnessed the positive impact on student participation. Today, the organization places artist programs everywhere children and their families go – from after-school programs in community centers and churches to public libraries. Their impact on Dallas area children has been significant. My hope is that we can re-create the same in Arkansas!”
According to a recent press release, Young Audiences Arts for Learning “is the largest and oldest arts-in-education network in the country, reaching more than 5 million students each year. YA is dedicated to making the arts available to students of every age in urban, rural and suburban communities and providing equity and access to all young people.” David A. Dik, national executive director of Young Audiences, said, “We are thrilled to welcome ALTTA…to the YA network. Each new affiliate brings a passionate staff and board that will strengthen the YA network.”
By joining the YA network, ALTTA will now have the backing and support of a time-tested national organization. “Becoming part of the Young Audiences Arts for Learning network will give us access to resources that we can use to serve students in Arkansas schools,” stated ALTTA executive director Craig Welle.
Programs have been implemented in Garland and Saline counties, and Smither is hoping that the new affiliation, along with increased awareness of the organization, will help spread the program statewide.
For more information about ALTTA, visit altta.org or contact Welle at 214-676-0222 (cmwelle2@gmail.com) or Smither at 501-922-2743 (marthasmither@aol.com).
