The application of culture for youngsters improvement in Austria
Engaging with art is essential to the human experience. The art challenges us with different points of view, compel us to emphasize with “others” and give us the opportunity to reflect of the human condition. Empirical evidence support these claims: among young adults, arts participation is related to behaviours that contribute to the “health of civil society”, such as increased engagement, greater social tolerance, and reductions in other-regarding behaviour (OECD Reviews of Migrant Education: Austria 2010).
Experiences in the art go hand in hand with learning. Whether painting a picture, writing a play or choreographing a dance, youngsters learn how to express their feeling and emotions, how to relate cause and effect, choices and consequences, how to experiment, solve the problem and how to make decisions. Study made by Prof. Wolf Joachin Singer (German neurophysiologist), showed that art has strong impact on the brain’s neural connections, which act as the wining for learning. Whichever form of art is being utilized, the senses must operate, and deep thinking is a requirement. In addition, learning an artistic discipline, helps young people to develop their character, to learn habits, behaviours and attitudes that are necessary for success in any field of endeavour (https://www.dasgehirn.info/entdecken/grosse-fragen/erst-kommt-das-denken-dann-die-kunst).
Art develops creativity, one of the top five skills employers request nowadays. Youngsters receiving an arts-rich education perform better than the ones who receive less or no arts education (https://libertyclassicalacademy.org/importance-arts-education/). By performing art, youngsters show greater flexibility and adaptability in critical thinking than their peers. Through art, higher levels of thinking are fostered, because a person learns to observe, interpret, see different perspectives and to analyse. Furthermore, youngsters who participate in art, develop better their leadership skills, including decision-making strategy, building, planning and reflection. They become more prepared to use these skills effectively, by developing a strong sense of identity and confidence in their ability to affect the world around them in meaningful ways.
Magdalena Miladinovic
VAEV - Vienna Association of Education Volunteers