Read the latest research, news, and policy in our arts education RECAP for June 2026.
“Psst: The NEA says art is good for you”
Published on May 4, 2026 by the Oregon ArtsWatch
“President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the next federal fiscal year would defund the National Endowment for the Arts. But the imperiled agency is still functioning, and it[s] most recent Artsmatters newsletter includes a recently released report that says the arts are good for people and the country.” Learn more about how the arts make us better human beings. Oregon ArtsWatch
“Federal earning test jeopardizes arts education”
Published on May 6, 2026 by Inside Higher Education
“…it is difficult to conceive of a future without the formative guidance that the arts provide. There is, granted, some sense to measuring the outcomes of arts education by calculating average graduate earnings, for the simple reason that higher education requires substantial investments by students and their families, as well as by taxpayers. Let us think carefully, however, about the ramifications of eliminating educational opportunities for subjects with transformational power. The future does not just happen; rather, it is directed by our collective attitudes, decisions and actions.” Inside Higher Education
“Are kids losing creativity? How America’s arts education crisis could affect innovation, mental health, and the future workforce”
Published on May 7, 2026 by the Better Magazine
Cutbacks to arts programs in our educational system don’t just affect students in the classroom setting, they’re also resulting in longterm unintended consequences in the future workforce. “Research conducted by Kyung Hee Kim of the School of Education at the College of William and Mary found that ‘people of all ages, kindergartners through adults, have been steadily losing their ability to elaborate upon ideas and detailed and reflective thinking; people are less motivated to be creative; and creativity is less encouraged by home, school, and society overall.’” Better Magazine
“Letters: Artists and arts groups ask San Diego to reconsider proposed funding cuts”
Published on May 17, 2026 by San Diego Union Tribune
“For too long, the creative field has operated in a state of scarcity, but that is not sustainable. We must not only maintain our support for the arts but increase our support for the entire cultural sector, the creative workers who call San Diego home and the millions of audiences they serve. If teaching artists, curators and creators can no longer afford to stay in San Diego — and organizations no longer have funding to deliver their programs — the work stops. The signal will be clear, and the workforce will move to cities that intentionally prioritize creativity, leaving San Diego behind.” San Diego Union Tribune
“A band of artists skips the gallery to paint murals at LA schools. Their glue: a 5th grade teacher”
Published on May 31, 2026 by LAist
“On a recent Monday, students at Breed Street Elementary in Boyle Heights started their day like no other — with a tour of the murals hand-painted over the weekend across the playground.” Learn about how a collective of artists in the Los Angeles area have teamed up to paint murals at under-resourced schools. LAist
