Investments in theatre education brings dollars to Miami-Dade
JOSE .A IGLESIAS jiglesids/@elnuevohereld.com
Coral Gables, Florida, October 2, 2023 - Performers on stage inside the concert hall in the Knight Center for Music Innovation at the University of Miami.
By Bari Newport (producing artistic director of GableStage) and Sharon Studer (co-founder and chair of theatre works!)
“Investing in the arts does not cost us money. It makes us money. It is not a drain on our resources. It is a fountain of wealth.” This quote from Simon Brault, Canada Council for the Arts, reminds us that supporting the arts is more than entertainment; it’s an investment for the future.
Theatre is a powerful educational tool that fosters creativity, entertainment and essential skills for success beyond the stage. At theatre works! and GableStage, we witness firsthand the impact theatre has on students, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds. One teenager recently shared these words following a trip to the theatre: “I’ve been dealing with some metal health problems for a couple of weeks now, and although I couldn’t particularly relate, this made me think of it in somewhat of a different light. It didn’t solve the problem, but it really helped.”
Time and time again, access to the arts has proven to improve student performance and help develop real-world skills. As our South Florida business community expands, companies can fulfil their duty as corporate citizens by nurturing the next generation of leaders by supporting the theatre. Theatre is a dynamic and collaborative art that engages children on multiple levels - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. Studies conducted by the UK Cultural Learning Alliance revealed that children from low-income families participating in structured arts activities are three times more likely to earn a degree. These activities lead to a 17% increase in cognitive abilities and improved performance in core subjects like Maths and English.
Theatre skills teach empathy. Research from the National Endowment for the arts shows that children exposed to theatre have higher tolerance and better perspective- taking, which are key traits for leadership and collaboration. In Miami's diverse community (66% Hispanic and 18% Black), developing open-mindedness and empathy is crucial. Miami is a city of great wealth but also poverty, with 34% of Miami-dade residents struggling to cover basic needs like housing, childcare and food. For families in need, taking children to see a production of Romeo & Juliet is not prioritised. Though they are doing their best, public schools can’t fill this gap due to underfunding. Florida ranks 45th in public school spending and 48th in teacher pay, with art programs often the first to be cut.
Organisations like theatre works! and GableStage prioritise children’s access to the arts. GableStage has two key programs, Shakespeare-in-the-Schools, which visits 20-plus Miami-Dade public and private high schools each year to perform contemporary versions of Shakespeare’s classics, and the newly reinstated student matinee series that introduces high school students to high-quality theatre productions. For charity, theatre works! has provided over 12,000 theatre tickets to underserved young people in the United States and the United Kingdom and issued grants to three South Florida art institutions - GableStage, Adrienne Arsht and Actor’s Playhouse. By supporting youth theatre education, businesses can fulfil their corporate social responsibility while strategically investing in our community’s future. Research demonstrates that exposure to the arts enhances academic achievements, college aspirations and future career prospects.
Investing in the arts nurtures creativity, critical thinking and cultural appreciation - qualities that drive innovation in the corporate world. What’s more, art is a huge industry in Miami. Miami-Dade County’s arts and culture businesses generate $2.1 billion in local economic activity and attracts visitors, with 21% of visitors travelling to Miami-dade County to attend cultural events, according to the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Support the arts by sponsoring theatre tickets for students, funding educational programs and collaborating on community initiatives. We can create more inclusive and prosperous South Florida - one curtain call at a time.