In a global economy where innovation drives prosperity, the United States faces increasing competition from around the world in maintaining its competitiveness. Business, education, and community leaders believe that education is core to whether our young people and workers will be prepared to meet these economic challenges. Yet, they also see the need to re-imagine as well as re-invest in American public education in order to improve workforce readiness; provide national security; and ensure our students have the skills, knowledge, and creativity to compete successfully in a 21st-century global society.

To answer this question, 30 leaders from business, government, philanthropy, military, education, and the arts convened in September 2010, for the fifth annual Americans for the Arts National Arts Policy Roundtable.

Below is an overview of the participant recommendations for improving public and private sector cooperation and action concerning the arts in education reform.

1. Messaging and Casemaking—Demonstrate the link between the arts and other reform priorities, such as creativity, innovation, and global competitiveness
2. Research—Demonstrate the impact of arts learning on the development of 21st-century skills
3. Strategic Alliances—Strengthen connections with key influencers in business, philanthropy, and the millennial generation
4. Public Policy—Focus on reforming federal policy to leverage change down the state-to-local pipeline

We are pleased to share with you the results of our efforts at the 2010 Americans for the Arts National Arts Policy Roundtable, and hope that this report serves as a launching point to a new global dialogue between the public and private sectors and within our communities on the role the arts can play educating future generations of Americans.

• Full Report (pdf, 1.57 MB)
• Briefing Book (pdf, 1 MB)
• Executive Summary (pdf, 350 KB)

Americans for the Arts gratefully acknowledges its partner, the Sundance Institute, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the NAMM Foundation, and the Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts for support of the 2010 National Arts Policy Roundtable.