Arts, Athletics, and Access: Why creative outlets matter just as much as sports

When talking about youth development, sports are often the first activities mentioned. Teamwork, discipline, and physical health all come to mind. Athletics offer these important benefits, but they aren’t the only path to growth for kids.

Creative activities like art, music, and theatre give students another way to build confidence, discover their strengths, and find community. The arts build skills that extend far beyond childhood, such as creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and communication. Much like athletics, the arts teach discipline, teamwork, and resilience, showing kids that creativity is not just self-expression, but a powerful foundation for long-term personal growth.

For Courtney Perkins, Executive Director of Prescott Park Arts Festival and our partner Camp ENCORE!, “Access to the arts is about helping kids find their voice and their space among their peers. Through camp, some kids learn that they don’t like being on stage, so they become stage managers, costume designers, or work on the sound and lights. Every role is important to the production and teaches kids to work together for a common goal.” The festival believes everyone has a home in the arts because they know the impact participating in, or even watching, the arts can have on young minds.

Access to creative programs and sports are equally important. By supporting access to all types of out-of-school activities, the #areuin? Card Program and our Scholarship Program give every student the chance to belong, grow, and succeed in their own way, regardless of their financial situation.