Arts education earns deserved recognition

By Carole Haas Gravagno

Zulmarie Nazario, a 16-year-old junior at Palumbo high school in South Philadelphia, is a testament to the power of arts education. She has been painting and drawing at the Fleisher Art Memorial just about every week since she came here from Puerto Rico three years ago. "I feel like a totally different person when I come to Fleisher," said Zulmarie. "It allows me to express my feelings and not be afraid of being judged or self-conscious."

Today, Zulmarie will represent the Fleisher Art Memorial at the White House, where first lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to present this year's National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. Fleisher, a nonprofit community arts center in South Philadelphia, is one of only 12 arts organizations selected for the awards out of 471 nominated nationwide. The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program is part of a national initiative to celebrate the creativity of America's young people and to support after-school and out-of-school programs that open new pathways to self-discovery and academic success.

Zulmarie participates in Fleisher's Teen Lounge, a free after-school program that gives teenagers a chance to pursue projects of their own choosing while being guided by local professional artists. With access to Fleisher's studios and art materials, Zulmarie creates detailed abstract drawings that reflect her perspective on the world around her. She also takes part in a wide variety of other art projects, ranging from fabric sculptures to stop-motion animation.

Fleisher's arts programs have changed the outlooks and lives of thousands of young people. The creative projects coming out of its Teen Lounge engage young people and their families while celebrating the diversity of South Philadelphia and tapping into the community-building power of art.

Being creatively active helps children and teens develop problem-solving and decision-making skills and strategies for working cooperatively, abilities that today's employers say are essential. Studies have shown that youths in after-school arts programs do better in school and contribute more to their communities. They are less likely to drop out of school or engage in delinquent behavior. They learn new skills, expand their horizons, and develop a sense of self, well-being, and belonging. And their creations bring hope and joy to their peers, families, and communities.

The arts and humanities are as important to the development of well-rounded thinkers as the achievements that can be measured by standardized tests. Yet the arts are usually among the first places public schools look when they have to trim their budgets. That's why organizations such as Fleisher are essential to the movement to increase access to arts-based learning.

Investments in local arts education are an investment in Philadelphia's young people, and they will pay dividends for generations to come. When teens like Zulmarie Nazario learn new ways to "express their feelings without being afraid of being judged or self-conscious," they profit, and, in turn, we all do.