The Newport Daily News: “The Arts Make $ense”

NEWPORT, R.I.   – The Newport Daily News featured an article on “The Arts: A Driving Force in Rhode Island’s economy,” a discussion panel held on how the arts play an important role in strengthening the state’s economy.

Sometimes arts programs  are the first item on the chopping block when school departments are faced with budget cuts, primarily because they are seen as outside the core curriculum. But the arts are a critical part of any area’s economic engine and should be getting  more attention in schools, not less, according to members of a panel discussing  arts and the economy Tuesday at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Affairs.

Recent education theory has focused on STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — to prepare students for the 21st century job market. But there has been a growing movement to include the arts — turning the acronym into STEAM — to give students a creative base to help them in nearly any field they ultimately choose.

“We really have to make sure we don’t let the pendulum swing too far,” said Paul J. Carroll, Newport’s director of civic investment, of the STEM movement.

To read the full article, please visit The Newport Daily News’ website.