Art Programs Help At-Risk Youth

Studies by the U.S. Department of Justice demonstrate increased pro-social behavior amongst youth involved in arts programs.

The YouthARTS Development Project demonstrated the efficacy of arts programs for at-risk youth in three cities (Atlanta, Portland, and San Antonio). The project was a partnership between Americans for the Arts, National Endowment for the arts and the U.S. Department of Justice. Findings from the controlled research study include the following behavioral advancements:

Skills:

• Increased ability to express anger appropriately, to communicate effectively with adults and peers and to work cooperatively with others.
• Increased ability to work on tasks from start to finish, which is vital for both academic and vocational success.

Attitudes and Behavior:

• Decreased frequency of delinquent behavior.
• More likely to show improvement in their attitudes toward school, self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Court Involvement:

• Fewer new court referrals during the program period.
• New offenses committed during the program period tended to be less severe than those committed prior to the program.