Fine Arts

Catholic school education seeks to enhance the student’s love of God. Instruction in the arts encourages students to deepen their appreciation of God’s gifts to the world and to develop technical and artistic skills to express their own gifts and talents. It provides students with an opportunity for personal expression, awareness of their heritage, and appreciation for the role art plays in society. Art allows a student to touch that which is uniquely human. “Indeed, art is a distinctively human form of expression; beyond the search for the necessities of life which is common to all living creatures, art is a freely given superabundance of the human being’s inner riches” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2501).

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Instruction in the arts also supports and enriches student learning in other academic subjects. “The arts humanize the curriculum while affirming the inter-connectedness of all forms of knowing. They are a powerful means to improve general education” (Charles Fowler, Educational Leadership, Vol. 52, November 1994). “Knowing and practicing the arts disciplines are fundamental to the healthy development of children’s minds and spirits. That is why, in any civilization—ours included—the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term ‘education’” (National Standards for Arts Education). The use of art and of a student’s artistic talents in other areas of the curriculum touches a learning style that might not ordinarily be used in reading or math. It excites a part of the brain that may lie dormant at other times of the day. It provides the opportunity for alternative problem solving, creative expression, and non‐verbal response. Because the Catholic school educates the total child, fine arts such as visual art, music, theatre and dance should not be seen as integral to the mission of Catholic school education.

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2017 Fine Arts Month Packet

Resources for Music Educators:

Contemporary Liturgy: Selecting Music - an OCP webinar

Engage! High Energy Choral Rehearsal Strategies Webinar

Living Mercy One Day at a Time Webinar

Planning Liturgies for Your Culturally Diverse Community Webinar

Expert Advice on Liturgical Music Planning Webinar

How to Run A More Effective Choir Rehearsal