The Arts

In the days of dwindling funds and budget cuts, the arts are often the first to go. For example, many school systems have watered down their art programs or deleted them altogether. Community art programs have had their budgets slashed until, if they've survived, they can do only a fraction of what they once did.

The arts encompass much more than the visual arts, although they're an important part of it. Theater, dance, music, writing, etc. are included. The list could be exhaustive. Even the visual arts include a wide variety of crafts, like jewelry making, glass blowing, pottery, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, needlepoint, candle making, woodworking, and many others. 

Admittedly, attitudes that art has to be risque to be viable hasn't helped their cause, but the public often focuses on this more than necessary. Art can touch places deep within us and brings out the best. It can lift us out of the mundane routines, whisk us away from our problems, and take us to where we're faced with beauty instead of turmoil. It stimulates possibilities and lets us dream dreams. We all should support the arts, because they touch our lives for the better.

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