The Virtues

Americans for the Arts believes that the arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities and our nation:

• Aesthetics: The arts create beauty and preserve it as part of culture

• Creativity: The arts encourage creativity, a critical skill in a dynamic world
   
• Expression: Artistic work lets us communicate our interests and visions
   
• Identity: Arts goods, services, and experiences help define our culture
   
• Innovation: The arts are sources of new ideas, futures, concepts, and connections
   
• Preservation: Arts and culture keep our collective memory intact
   
• Prosperity: The arts create millions of jobs and enhance economic health
   
• Skills: Arts aptitudes and techniques are needed in all sectors of society and work
   
• Social Capital: We enjoy the arts together, across races, generations, and places

(From the Americans for the Arts National Arts Index, Roland Kushner and Randy Cohen)