4-H arts programs develop capable, involved youth
Youth who participate in arts programs, like those offered by UW-Extension 4-H, gain focus in other areas of their lives as well.
Arts have been an important part of the 4-H program since its beginnings in Wisconsin. In the 1930s, University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture Dean Chris Christensen said he wanted to "put the culture back in agriculture" and created a rural arts program with University of Wisconsin-Extension specialists offering workshops and exhibitions.
Today, more than 48,000 4-H members in Wisconsin enjoy participating in the arts: visual arts, drama, music, photography and communications.
Arts are much more than just fun. Tim Talen, 4-H arts specialist at UW-Extension, says research shows arts participation enhances youth development.
"A UCLA study showed that students who studied the arts had higher grades, scored better on standardized tests, had better attendance records, and were more active in community affairs than other students," Talen says. That study also found that students from poorer families who studied the arts improved their overall school performance more rapidly than other students.
A Stanford University study found that at-risk students who participated in the arts improved their self-esteem and confidence, assumed leadership roles, and improved their overall school performance. — Mary Ellen Bell
For more information: 4-H Youth Development Arts Specialist Tim Talen, timothy.talen@ces.uwex.edu, (920) 459-4429