During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has been advocating increasing  art education. He  noted that children who are encouraged to study art in school perform at an overall higher academic level. “In addition to giving our children the science and math skills they need to compete in the new  global context, we should also encourage the ability to think creatively that comes from a meaningful arts education,” he said. “Unfortunately, many school districts are cutting instructional time for art and music education.”

Watch video link of Obama discussing arts education at a town meeting on April 2, 2008

Numerous extensive tests in recent decades have clearly shown that children who study arts when they are young become not only more creative and intelligent later in life, but they also have higher IQs.

In fact, a person’s creative ability is often a core component used in measuring IQ.  President Obama is advocating the creation of an “Artist Corps” that is sent into low-income schools to promote arts curriculum and education.

The President has pointed out that such programs require very little financial backing and will undoubtedly yield major long-term benefits. The relatively low cost of arts education is a major selling point and bodes well that these types of programs will be implemented, despite the current economic conditions.